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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:
- "from the desk of" (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)
- "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.
- 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.
- andrew_azazi2@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. ANDREW AZAZI" <monica@dieo.com.br>
Reply-To: <andrewazazi@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:48:50 +0100
Subject: RE: MESSAGE FROM MY OFFICE TODAY
--
FROM THE DESK OF MR. ANDREW AZAZI
I am Mr. Andrew Azazi of the Nigerian Clearing House. I decided to
contact you because of the prevailing financial report reaching my
office and the intense nature of policy in Nigeria: Reply to my private
email: (andrew_azazi2@aol.com) This is to inform you about our plan to
send your fund to you via cash delivery system. This system will be easy
for you and for us. We are going to send your payment of ($15.8Million
United States Dollars) to you through diplomatic shipment with the
services of a diplomat,I have secured every needed document to cover
this fund.
Note: This fund is coming in security proof boxes which are sealed with
Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will use my position to
release this fund to you. The boxes are coming with a Courier agent who
will deliver them to you at your home address in your country.
Confirm your info once more
Your Name in full:
Your Address:
Nationality:
Age/Gender:
Occupation:
Telephone/Mobile Phone:
Copy of your driver license:
Note: The Agent does not know the contents in these boxes, the content
will be declared to him as Sensitive Photographic Film Materials. I will
secure the clearance Tax Certificate that will be tagged on the boxes
which I will dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the
consignments to enable you access them as soon as they are delivered to
you.
Best Regards,
Mr. Andrew Azazi
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Anti-fraud resources:
