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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "the 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 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.
- 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.
- ugodiplomatfred@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Richard Bruno" <nsabieric@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: ugodiplomatfred@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:18:17 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attention Dear Beneficiary,
Attention Dear Beneficiary,
Please send the diplomat who is stranded at Hartsield-Atlanta Airport your address where to make your delivery. His name is Dr.Fred Ugo bon and he arrived at Hartsield-Atlanta Airport three days ago with your package and he'll need to proceed to your address. Please E-mail him your Phone number and all identities that will help him for smooth delivery.
The bellow is his contact. Don't let him know the content because it contains 1.7 million U.S.A Dollars.
Email (ugodiplomatfred@yahoo.co.uk)
His phone number (404 462 3471)
AND NOTE THAT you should recomfirm your below address to him such as...
Your full receiver's name...............
Your house delivery address..............
Your phone number...........................
A copy of your id...........................
And your nearest airport.......................
yours in service
Dr. Richard Bruno
DHL DIRECTOR
+229 99185455
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Anti-fraud resources:
