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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- citylinkdeliver@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Attn: Dear friend," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <citylinkdeliver@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:49:59 +0800
Subject: Attn: Dear friend
Attn: Dear friend,
Good day, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Fund $1.5 Million United state Dollar And all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.5 Million us dollar in cash was made with CITY LINK DELIVER SERVICE. Be inform that there are some documents to be secure.
Do contact them and let me know when you have receive your fund, below is the needed information to enable them deliver your fund to you immediately.
Company name...... CITY LINK DELIVER COURIER SERVICE
Contact person:...(KANE MARK)
Telephone...... +47031855615
Email ........( citylinkdeliver@gmail.com)
Send your contact information to them as it below to enable their diplomatic agent to locat you when he arrive in your country..
YOUR FULL NAME
YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
YOUR AGE AND SEX
Do let me know immediately you receive your consignment that consist your fund that i deposited in the so that we can share the joy together.
BEST REGARDS,
MR. JOMIE SUMA
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