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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- helperangela6@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Chan Leap Phala <phalaleap2esq@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2021 01:40:45 +0000
Subject: Dear friend
*Dear friend Compliment of the day. I have a gold cargo with fedex pending
delivery to whomever i choose. I am a personal assistant to a dethroned
politician who is currently under house arrest in Togo Republic. I managed
to deposit the consignment with Fedex courier company with part payment of
the shipping fee. So my reason for contacting you is to seek your
assistance to complete shipping payment with fedex and receive the 11kg of
Gold dust and safeguard it well until my boss and I get released as we are
not allowed out of the country for now. So, if you are interested to be
part of this lucrative business, kindly let me know so that i can direct
you to the Fedex fiduciary agent to finalize with them on remaining payment
and expect the cargo delivery at your address as you will direct them.Note,
we communicate only by email helperangela6@gmail.com
<helperangela6@gmail.com> for security reasons. Awaits your feedback.*
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Anti-fraud resources:
