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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)
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Pamela Sims" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pamelasimsc@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:10:26 -0700
Subject: Hello!
I have been waiting for your response to my previous email but I didn’t hear from you. Where have you been? Are you dead or alive?
Did you instruct Adesso John and Wesley Peters to come and claim your Fund?
Please note that the consignment is worth of ($ 5.6 Million United States Dollars) Inherited/Contract fund/ diverted been winning Lotto for delivery to another destination in Japan. Are you aware of this information? Because I noticed that one of our Official Delivery Diplomat is trying to change all the Delivery information and Divert the fund to Japan which I know you are not Japanese.
Be informed that we have put a Stop to the funds and the consignment has been revoked back to it origin in United States for possible delivery to your destination through a new United Nations Diplomat who will arrive in your country by next week for clearance as soon as you confirm your current address.
Confirm your phone number, Address and the Amount in the consignment for immediate delivery to your confirmed address and to avoid delivering to a wrong beneficiary.
Your urgent response is needed.
Thanks.
Mrs. Pamela Sims
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Anti-fraud resources:
