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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 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)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Rev Austin Ibeh <irevaustin@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Rev Austin Ibeh <austinibeh834@yahoo.pt>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 13:16:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: GOOD NEWS
Dear Beneficiary
This is to inform you that your fund which you have been Processing for
some period of years is coming through a Diplomatic means to your door
steps in cash as sealed in a Luggage, From World Bank Auditor in Nigeria
(World Bank Auditor).
We advise you forward to us your information to
this Department office,
Your full name:
Your home address:
Your Telephone number:
 Your International Passport:
Drivers' License:
Also where you want the consignment to be Delivered. As soon as we receive this information required from you the Consignment
briefcase of $6.5m will be forwarded to you immediately and the date of
our official arriving in your Country will be given to you also.
Do get back to me immediately to any the dispatch of the diplomat with
the luggage as sealed to you in your home country.
Thanks
We wait your reply.
Rev .Austin Ibeh
Phone:+234 80129840109
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Anti-fraud resources:
