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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Linda A Woodward" <dr.ferdmark12@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomatMarkelOwen@yeah.net
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 15:30:56 +0700
Subject: CONTACT MR.MARK OWEN THE DIPLOMAT AGENT WITH THIS NUMBER +12145198995
Good day
Am here to inform you that your partner has paid your delivery charge of $450.00, so the
diplomat conveying your consignment box worth of $2.5million us dollars leave here two
days ago and he misplace your address and he his currently stranded at your airport, So
you are advice to reconfirm your information to the Diplomat immediately to enable him
deliver your consignment box to your door step without any further delay.
So the information to reconfirm to him is as follow:
(1)Your Full Name:.....................
(2)Mobile Phone Number:...............
(3)Current Home Address:...............
(4)Fax Number:...............
(5)Country:...............
(7)Nearest Airport:...............
(8)A Copy Of Your I D For Identification.
Contact person, Name Diplomat Mark Owen Email Address ( diplomatMarkelOwen@yeah.net )
Urgently email him or call with this USA LINE +12145198995 ) So contact him to deliver
your consignment box first thing tomorrow morning, So get back to us immediately you
contact him to make sure that your fund has getting to you, Remember the diplomat does
not know the content of that consignment box is money, We registered it as a family
valuable items to avoid hitch during the delivery so you should not let him know the
contact of that consignment box to avoid lost of your fund.
Regard
Mrs. Linda A Woodward
The Director of Dhl Courier
Company Benin Republic.
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