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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:
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "(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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr David Diallo <fundreleaseoffice1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: payment103@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:13:44 +0100
Subject: RE2
Dear Beneficiary,
My Name is David Diallo, I have a consignment valued at $8,500,000.00
USD ( Eight million Five hundred
thousand United States Dollars.) assigned to me to deliver to you by
the African Union (A.U) after the just concluded summit which was held
along with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). I
I am pleased to inform you that I have arrived in the United States with your
consignment and currently in Texas.
Please forward your address, direct contact number where you can be
reached to enable me complete the delivery as scheduled and go back.
Also reconfirm your full name along with copy of your ID to avoid
wrong delivery.I have another assignment to carry out and I need you to
get back to me immediately in order to make sure that this is
completed today.
Your Full Name:
Your Complete Address:
Direct Tele: Number:
Mobile Number:
Occupation
Nationality.
And A Copy of your ID
Waiting for your immediate cooperation.
Thanks,
Mr David Diallo
Delivery Agent
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Anti-fraud resources:
