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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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. McCarthy Edward." <mikeoffice49@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Dr. McCarthy Edward." <cmcc.arthy036@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 17:10:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn: dear
Attn: dear,
I write to inform that our diplomatic agent leave this country yesterday to your destination, he is having your total $6.2 Million in the brief consignment, after I have told the manager UBA Bank Benin to help me cash the total money in your a.t.m card and lets deliver the cash your address through the FedEx express delivering agency. Your agent has been on delivering since yesterday and he has been arrived your airport this morning but unfortunately he misplaced your address.
He demands for your urgent attention so that he can be able to get to your home before night come today, while I have warned him not to make this delivery to night. He required you should re-confirm Your full name... Youre home Address... Direct telephone number.... Your nearest Airport.... Note:
The FedEx diplomatic does not know the original contents of the boxed/consignment for security reason. What l declared to them as the contents of this consignment box is Sensitive Photographic Film Material. I did not declare to them is money inside. This is for security reason and no condition you will disclose the real content to any one or even the delivering agent until is delivered to your door step.
File the above information and forward it immediately to the delivering agent through on his email address bellow. he is going to call you once he has confirmed your full direction as required on above.
FedEx diplomatic agent. Mr. Max Peter.
Call him or txt at this No 205 598 2882
Do contact he email once you get this email because he is been there over 4 hours now, waiting for your confirmation.
Regards
Dr. McCarthy Edward.
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