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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:
- "demurrage " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Ellie Catinis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elliecatin@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2013 17:34:23 +0100
Subject: URGENT RESPOND NEEDED
Greetings !
I am ELLIE CATINIS Independent Non-executive Director of DAMASCUS People’s jamariya Bank, Syria.I believe you are a highly respected personality, considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human resource profile database on your country through Internet. I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events and situation in SYRIA now but it has formed consistent headlines in the CNN, BBC news bulletins.
I want you to help me in securing the sum of US$3.8M which I sent out when the crisis in SYRIA started. On your acceptance to help me, I shall let you know where the fund is being kept as I do not want to be paying demurrage on it.You shall contact the SECURITY & FINANCE company and they will cargo the consignment to you or you visit the company.More so I do not know when the war in our country shall be over hence you can keep this fund for our mutual benefits on TRUST pending when I shall visit you to utilize the fund with you BUT if I am dead in the process,use the money to help the poor and build orphanage homes.
Note / Every Financial institution’s have been paralysed in the country at the moment and no cash movement.
Your urgent response shall stop my possible negotiations with other persons.
Regards,
Ellie Catinis.
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