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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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "SUSSANA DIARRE" <tony.dee@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: <diaresusanna@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:47:56 +0100
Subject: HELLO AM SUSSANA ,I LIKE TO KNOW YOU
Hello ,
My name is Susanna Diarre 20yrs old and i am from Sudan but presently in Refugee camp here in Accra -Ghana .
I am in refugee camp here in Ghana ,because my father and mother were killed in the war in Sudan and this is the reason i have to come down to Ghana to live in the refugee camp were there is peace .
I am contacting you because i have with me the Original certificate which my late father used in depositing the sum of $49million dollars with a private security firm in United Kingdom and made me the next of kin to the deposited funds according to the hand written note of my father he did not declare the cash to the security company as he told them that the safe deposit box contain family treasure .
My reason for contacting you is for you to help me make claim of the consignment box from the security company in United Kingdom and then move the funds over to your country and then you shall invite me to come over to join you and start a new life in your country and then you will invest the funds.
I am willing to give you 15% for your assistance in this transaction .
If you are interested then kindly forward the following information about yourself
1) Your Full Name .
2) Your Residential Address.
3) Your Private Mobile,Telephone and Fax numbers where you can be reached at all time.
I will forward to you the Original certificate along side the pin code for the safe deposit box and also the contact information of the Security company in United Kingdom for you to make contact immediately .
I will be very glad to hear from you soon.
Sincerely
Susanna Diarre
Ghana Refugee Camp.
West Africa.
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Anti-fraud resources:
