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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- 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)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- csff.international1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: COOPERATE SECURITY AND FINANCIAL FIRM <csff.international@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: csff.international1@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 11:58:51 +0000
Subject:
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COOPERATE SECURITY FINANCE/FIRM INT'L
IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): G.B.C. 0097 H.C.A.
Title: Delivery
Date: 17/10/2014
Level of description: Finalized
Attention:
I am Williams Clarke a diplomat with Cooperate security finance/firm.
Your information along with four others has been given to me for
diplomatic delivery of consignments and valuables.
My destination will be at your airport in your country, for the
delivery of your consignment in my custody to you personally. I will
be booking my flight itinerary as soon as I hear from you, hence my
notification for you to confirm your address or provide your address
for crosschecking.
I want to inform you that i will be meeting with you personally to
deliver hand in hand your consignment in my custody. I will need a
valid identification from you and a valid phone number for me to reach
you. You will have to inform me of your present destination/location
so I will know how far you are from the airport.
Respond swiftly through the email addresses below.
csff.international1@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Williams Clarke
Diplomat for CSFF INT'L
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Anti-fraud resources:
