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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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.
- 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.
- agent.smithson03@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Jamie Odion" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <agent.smithson03@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2016 16:40:10 +0100
Subject: Re: Your box movement
Dear friend,
This is to inform you that your atm card which you have abandon to claim is already converted into cash and would be delivered to you through our diplomatic agent. The issuing bank of the atm card called and informed us that since the atm card has spent so much time without conducting a withdrawal thus, it could be affected.
Therefore, the atm card is now converted and our representative diplomatic agent Smithson Paul has been assigned to deliver the consignment box which contains your funds ($10.5m) and he has arrived the United States of America with your consignment box and told us he's unable to reach with you on your phone number to deliver the consignment box.
Please note, the consignment box has the following details/description to enable you identify the box when handling the box to you.
BOX Registration NO: 17006180
Serial.# 528066169100
Color: Silver-coated
size: 14.58 CM
weight: 40kg
I need you to understand that the real content of the consignment box was not disclosed to the diplomatic agent for security reasons. He was told that the content of the consignment box contain family gift/ film material which is to be used by movie industries.
Please call him now on this number and request him to clear the consignment box and deliver to your designated home address with your full details.
His details are below
Name: Smithson Paul
Email: agent.smithson03@yahoo.com
Phone: + (1) 917-341-4049
Contact him now and get back to me to know if you have received your consignment box from him.
Thanks
Rev. Jamie Odion
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Anti-fraud resources:
