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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:
- "the 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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Accountant Marthew <pm7115916@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Accountant Marthew <markgilks@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2015 03:06:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTN, PLEASE.
ATTN, PLEASE.
NOW A WOMAN NAMED MRS PATRICIA IS CALLING OUR OFFICE SAYING THAT YOU
MANDATED HER TO CLAIM YOUR FUNDS. MOREOVER, WERE HEREBY TO MAKE THIS
CLEARED TO YOU THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE HAND
OVER TO ANY OF YOUR RELATIVES EXCEPT YOU SO WHOEVER
THAT YOU DIRECTED TO CLAIM THE CONSIGNMENT BOX VALUED YOUR CASH PAYMENT
$3.850MILLION THAT IS IN CARE OF DIPLOMAT JOHN COLLINS IS CALLING FOR
NOTHING. DIPLOMAT IS NOT GOING TO DELIVER TO HER UNLESS YOU CONTACT US
THROUGH THIS VERY E-MAIL ADDRESS OF YOURS TO
PROOF TO US THAT YOU ARE REALLY IN THE HOSPITAL AS THIS WOMAN SAID. ON
NO CIRCUMSTANCE THE WOMAN IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS MRS.PATRICIA WILL BE
CALLING WITH HER PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER 1 (281) 631-3959 TO CLAIM YOUR
PAYMENT WHILE THERE IS NO DOCTOR REPORT FROM HER
SHOWED THAT YOU ARE IN-COMA.
IN FACT, CONTACT DIPLOMAT JOHN COLLINS BY YOURSELF ON THIS PHONE NUMBER
+15418553810 BECAUSE HE IS STRANDED IN YOUR AIRPORT WAITING TO HEAR THE
FINAL DECISION. IF THAT WILL BE THE CASE, HE WILL DELIVER YOUR PAYMENT
TO YOU AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE YOU ARE TAKEN
TREATMENT OK.
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HIM ON THIS PHONE NUMBER. USE YOUR FULL
ADDRESS/YOUR PHONE NUMBER AS SUBJECT WHEN CONTACTING JOHN COLLINS TO LET
HIM KNOW THAT I WAS
RESPECTIVELY, REV.MATHEW M. GILKS
ACCOUNTANT(BNI INDONESIA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
