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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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: MARK CLIFFORD <mrroybanks90@gmail.com>
Reply-To: markclifford852@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2020 12:52:11 -0800
Subject: THIS MESSAGE IS FROM SAINT PETERS BURG CUSTOM OFFICE FLORIDA
U.S Customs and Border Protection
14700 Teminal Blvd #120,
Clearwater, FL 33762, United States
From the desk of Mr. Mark Clifford
Good day to you and how are you doing today?
My name is Mr. Mark Clifford from Saint Petersburg Florida. I am
writing to let you know that we received several consignment boxes
signed and Approved by the United Nations with some different people's
names/inscription on the boxes. Among the consignment boxes that are
still in our custody, your name was included on them. Others are from
our New Jersey Customs Office branch, several banks in Europe and
parts of Asia; have all been sent to our office here in our Saint
Petersburg office branch for our office to make clarification that you
received your two consignment boxes.
Two days ago (Mrs. Susan Brown) sent to us a message stating that she
was a family member of yours and she also said that you are no more
alive and she made us to understand that you handed over your
belonging to her when you were still alive so therefore the lady is
demanding from our office the two consignment boxes to be released to
her as she is trying to stand as your next of kin but we are still
waiting to see if you will respond to this email before three days’
time because,(HOME LAND SECURITY REVENUE)(FBI) AND UNITED NATIONS)
warned us to be very careful in our dealings with you and that was the
reason we ignored the message from Mrs. Susan Brown but still
awaiting to see if you will respond to this alert message for us to
be sure that you are still alive before we tell you the next line of
action and the best way you can received your consignment boxes
without any more delay on it.
Thanks
Mr. Mark Clifford
Customs Department Director
SAINT Petersburg Florida
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