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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "firstcommons6@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Douglas King. I. P. A" <doughlas@doughlaskingint.com>
Reply-To: <kellyedwards987@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2020 19:23:07 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS
We office of the International Police Authority (IPA) hereby write to inform you that we caught a diplomatic lady called Mrs. Vernon Wallace at (John F Kennedy International Airport) here in New York with a consignment box filled with United State Dollars, Based on our interview with the Diplomat she said that the consignment box belongs to you, that she was sent by one payment Director from Africa to deliver the Consignment box on concerning your finished project to your door step not knowing that the content of the box is money.
Now, the diplomat is under detention in the office of (IPA) security and we cannot release her until We carry out our proper investigation on how This Huge amount of money is yours before we will release Her with the box. In this regards you are to reassure and prove to us that the money you are about to Receive is legal by sending us the Award Ownership Certificate showing that the money is not illegal.
You are advised to forward immediately the Award Ownership Certificate if you have it with you. We urge you to contact Mrs.Kelly Edwards to secure the Original Copy Award Ownership Certificate if you do not have the Certificate.
Below is the contact information
Name: Kelly Edwards
Email: firstcommons6@outlook.com
Mobile : 601-448-8812
Furthermore, we are giving you only but 7 working days to forward the requested Award Ownership Certificate. Note that we shall get back to you after the 7 working days if you do not come up with the certificate we shall confiscate the Funds into World Bank account then charge you for money laundering.
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation
Mr. Douglas King. I. P. A
REGION NO:2 DCP. DOUGLAS H. KING
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