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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("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.
- +447031875852 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Patrick Amstrong" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <securefunds@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:54:26 +0800
Subject: DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT
>From The Desk Of
Dr. Patrick Amstrong
National Security/Diplomatic warehouse United Kingdom.
Phone Number::+447031875852 .
DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded in respect to shipment of your consignment/
funds to your country. I choose to conclude shippment to ensure it is lifted before contacting you.This
process is the Airlifing of consignment from One Country to another via a Diplomatic means of delivery.
I found out that this consignment has been lying here because you could not settle cost for shippment fees.
This is why I decided to use my Position as the Shipment officer in charge of this Organization to convey this
consignment to your Country.(In Our Warehouse there are lots of Abandoned consignments and Valueables kept
at the Orders of the British Government)
The consignment has left London two days ago en-route countries are: SPAIN/NETHERLAND/MALAYSIA/U.A.E/INDIA/
U.S.A/CANADA. It is a metal box,Silver in colour with a weight of about 75kg,The Content of the Trunk Box was
declared PERSONAL EFFECT AND FAMILY VALUEABLES FOR SECURITY REASON.
Acknowledge the reciept of this e-mail immediately so that i can provide more details of the Company in Charge
in U.S.A to enable you confirm when your consignment will arrive.
I choose to do this for you because you may have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I
believe you will compensate me well when you receive the consignment.
You can track it with this WBSITE: www.iship.com
TRACKING NUMBER : EC932373096US
Note: I know the content of the trunk Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by British Apex Bank.
This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement does not involve any of the people
you weredealing with in Uk in the past because this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government.
Hence my involvement.
Waiting for your responds
Dr. Patrick Amstrong
National Security/Diplomatic warehouse United Kingdom.
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