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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 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)
- "the 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.
- pauldavidson370@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION UNITED STATES (IPA)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <internationalpolice.ast@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:40:19 +0100
Subject: INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION UNITED STATES (IPA)
INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION UNITED STATES (IPA)
Region No. 2 Knickerbockers Station
New York City,New York 10002-0804 USA.
The office of the International Police association (IPA) writes to inform you that Mrs. Vernon Wallace have been arrested at John F. Kennedy International airport (JFK), New York with your consignment box of funds (US$5.5M). During interrogation, she was sent by a payment director from Africa (Nigeria) for your delivery. Her first transit in the state was at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International airport Ohio and interrogation is still ongoing. She is in detention and will be release to complete your delivery when investigation is concluded. You are therefore advised to prove and reassure us that your funds is legal by sending the award ownership certificate issued by the Nigerian Senate president. Be assured that your funds will be delivered safely as soon as we receive it.
You are therefore advised to contact Mr. Paul Davidson the sender of the diplomat for assistance if you don't have it.
Below is Mr. Paul Davidson's contact
Name: Mr. Paul Davidson
Email: pauldavidson370@yahoo.com
Note: You are given seven (7) working days from today to forward the certificate for verification purpose and scrutiny. We will contact you again once there is no response after three (3) working days.
Thanks for your understanding and co-operation.
Dr. Douglas H. King.
I.P.A Region 2 .
Committee of Police Societies, NYPD
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Anti-fraud resources:
