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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:
- "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)
- "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)
- "a 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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- ahernjayson26@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ahern Jayson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jaysonahern2@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:40:59 -0000
Subject: Canadian Customs and Border Protection
>From the desk of Mr Jayson Ahern
Canadian Customs and Border Protection
Attn: Honourable Beneficiary
we hereby bring to your notice that a consignment which is to be delivered at your
residence by a diplomat had been stopped by us. This is a security measure
put in place by Canadian Government to check terrorism and money laundry
through the sale of illegal drugs locally and internationally.
Upon a proper examination, we found out that the content in the consignment contained the sum of
US$3.5 Million, which upon further investigation we found out that the fund was your inheritance.
So your mail response will determine the release and onward deliver of your consignment at your residence
after all protocols have been observed.
However, in order to proceed we need you to reconfirm the following information,
Full Name:
Your current Residential Address:
Telephone/Mobile Numbers:
Occupation:
We await your response.
Regards,
Jayson Ahern
Commissioner
Canadian Customs and Border Protection
Please get back to us on this email ahernjayson26@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
