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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- diplomatic166@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR WOLF JOHNSON <diplomatagent@eathtlink.net>
Reply-To: <diplomatic166@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2019 10:12:21 -0700
Subject: NOTE:THIS IS YOUR PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO OVX950.
NOTE:THIS IS YOUR PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO OVX950.
We have finally succeeded in getting your package worth’s of $2.5MIL USD out of ECOWAS department with the help of Mr.James George Attorney General of Federal High Court, So reconfirm your full delivery information to MR KENT WILLIAM as he is currently at Hartfield Jackson international airport GA USA, Email or text him,(diplomatic166@gmail.com)or(478)273-8179) He is already there with your CONSGNMENT BOX when he called me on his arrival 4hours ago. Make sure that bellow stated codes are identified when contacting him as it's a VIP Delivery dispatched directly from my office and (tT56he) director of the Company
SHIPMENT CODE GJK72DWQ
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO OVX950.
SECURITY CODE EYTU/3055WEZ/263/
TRANSACTION CODE 7126/JLFS/7138/17305/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE MCBS/PQLE/2-6/41
Your full name, address, working phone number and nearest airport is needed.
SINCERELY
MR WOLF JOHNSON
The information contained in this email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient, you are requested to refrain from reading any attachments to the email. Please notify the person sending the message of the mistaken delivery immediately.
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Anti-fraud resources:
