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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:
- "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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: DIPLOMAT JAMES KELLY <f.zago@email.it>
Reply-To: DIPLOMAT JAMES KELLY <dhl.d.agent@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 May 2020 00:20:10 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary we wish to inform you that the Diplomatic Agent
conveying the consignment box valued the sum of $6.5Million United State
Dollars misplaced your address on transit and he is currently stranded in
your international airport (FLORDIA) with your consignment box. We required
you reconfirm the following information below, so he can deliver the
CONSIGNMENT BOX that contained your compensation fund as soon as possible
today. NAME FULL: ==================================== ADDRESS:
====
He is waiting to hear from you immediately with the needed information you are advice to re-confirm your personal info to him
to enable him proceeds and deliver your consignment box to your home address today.
He is waiting to hear from you today with the information. NOTE: The Diplomatic agent doesn't know that the content of the consignment box is $6.5Millions
United States Dollars and on no circumstances should you let him know the content. The consignments were moved from here as family treasures, so never allow
anybody to open the box.
Yours in Service,
JAMES KELLY
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Anti-fraud resources:
