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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: "Bank update" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <pppassss@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2016 13:52:38 +0100
Subject: Month Payment details
It's my pleasure to inform you our latest arrangement concern your over due fund sum of $5.5million note that your total fund of $5.5million will be deliver to you through Cash payment by the UN Diplomatic Agent, meanwhile be advice to provide your full delivery information to him and where you will like him to deliver your Cash payment of $5.5million usd to you he will give you first call immediately he arrive in your own city town before coming over your home so try to be at home to make sure that you receive the box by your self to avoid blaming our Bank thank.
Reconfirm the following information below so that he can deliver your consignment Cash box payment to you today.
NAME: ====================
ADDRESS: =====================
MOBILE NO.:=======================
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT: ================
OCCUPATION===================================
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: ==================
And also update us immediately you hear from the agent he will complete the delivery unfailingly by tomorrow morning your time.
Thank you.
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA DEVELOPMENT.
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Anti-fraud resources:
