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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:
- "you are required to pay " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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: Beth Leonard.
Reply-To: <ambassadormary1us@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2022 18:42:08 -0700
Subject: U.S Ambassador - Instructed Info.
U.S Ambassador
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area,
Abuja Nigeria.
Dear Sir ,
This is to notify you that your consignment box will arrive your
nearest Airport in the next 96 hours as all you need is to forward .to
us immediately a scan copy of your identification card and your
current home address if it has been changed.
This new development was made after the current review on all
consignment signed to be release by our commission within the period
of 4 days starting from tomorrow being 2nd November, 2022.
Please don't forget to forward your current home address if you have
relocated to avoid wrong delivery.
Meanwhile you are required to pay $250 only for the office keeping fee
of your consignment box which has been kept for a long time.
Note: The $250 for the office keeping fee must be paid in 42 hours.
My regards,
Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard.
U.S Ambassador To Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
