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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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (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.
- 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.
- +447045712910 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Kelvin Mammeh" <mammeh_kl@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: mammehkelvin@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:58:40 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: HELLO DEAR
Dear
I am Kelvin Mammeh a Liberian but live in London
please sir i don't know you but i want your urgent assistance to receive
my two truck boxes which contain 25million us dollar with some gold and
diamond at the diplomatic courier office here in London ready to be shipped.
I need your trust and confident to help me receive my consignment in
your country, so that i can leave London with my family as soon as
possible.
Now permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can you honestly help me?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question
will be good for you.
If you are interesting please contact me on this same email so that i
give u more information about this.
Also i have all the legal documents for the consignment .
please you can call me on this number +44 704 5712910
God bless you
Kelvin Mammeh
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http://www.interlinks.net/
http://www.durhamtelecom.com/
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