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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 diplomat " ("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: mr John Costa <fileoffice545@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhldeliverycompany969@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2023 21:52:28 -0700
Subject: Good day, Dear
Good day, Dear
I am the diplomat agent responsible for the delivery of your ATM card
worth $12.5 Million USD. I received your mail while I have been in
this airport for couple of days. It’s mandatory that the delivery of
your ATM package will take place today because it has given me a lot
of stress while I was told that it will take me only 2days. The way
the Airports HOME LAND PORT SECURITIES inspects card is not well
pleased. I am having a little problem here with Airports City HOMELAND
SECURITY, intercepting the ATM card with regards to Permit Certificate
which is delaying my coming to the above address you supplied to make
the delivery to you. They persisted I must obtain the Permit
Certificate before I will be allow to connect my flight to Your City.
So kindly send $125 Dollars Immediately through gift card or Bitcoin
so that they can obtain the required CLEAN BILL OF RECORD to enable me
board my flight to come over to your based, Do send the fee here to
avoid mistake: I will be forwarding this email to the company now. To
avoid any delay, once you have this fee send kindly email me for me to
be updated. Please don't delay because I don't have enough time to be
delay. Send the $125 usd as soon as possible to enable me arrange the
Permit Certificate of the ATM card as to assure that the delivery is
completed ASAP.
Regard
Diplomatic. Mr John Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
