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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: Mr PAUL TONY <"www."@eos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr PAUL TONY <ogechi973@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2016 23:58:32 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOOD DAY FUND BENEFICIARY CONTACT THE DIPLOMAT AGENT NOW FOR YOUR
ATM CARD.
GOOD DAY FUND BENEFICIARY CONTACT THE DIPLOMAT AGENT NOW FOR YOUR ATM CARD.
NOTE THIS IS YOUR PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
I want to acknowledge you that we have finally succeeded in getting
your ATM CARD worth's of $1.5million out of (ECOWAS) Economic
Community of West African States department with the help of Mr.Harry
white Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Benin
Republic which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in
Benin Republic.
Meanwhile every necessary arrangement has been made successfully with
out Diplomatic Agent Mr PAUL TONY for the delivery of your ATM CARD
and every Document guiding your delivery is well updated so you are
advised to reconfirm your full delivery information to the Agent PAUL
TONY right now as he is currently at EMEKA F Kennedy International
airport with your ATM CARD. He has already called me with his number
on his arrival 4hours ago.
He is waiting to hear from you today with the information, So you are
advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the diplomat
more you are advice to be very fast as the Agent PAUL TONY has no
time to waste due to his flight ticket. So the Information you are
required to reconfirm to the Agent PAUL TONY is as Follow.
(1)Your Full Name
(2)Mobile Phone Number
(3)Current Home Address
(4)Fax Number
(5)Country
(6)City
(7)Nearest Airport
(8)your Occupation
Kindly contact him and the Contact person, Name Diplomatic Agent
PAUL TONY CALL OR TEXT TO HIM NOW So contact him
to deliver your ATM CARD first thing tomorrow morning possibly today,
Make sure the bellow stated codes are identified when contacting him
and it's a VIP Delivery dispatched directly from my office the
director of the DHL Company
SHIPMENT CODE AWB33XZS
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Anti-fraud resources:
