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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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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.
- officeu3@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mac White" <info@admin.net>
Reply-To: dispatcher_office@aim.com
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:45:21 +0300
Subject: GOOD DAY (Pan No: FGG /SNT/STB)
Good Day,
I am Dip. Mac White the diplomatic Agent Texas (TX) Base. I'm positively
contacting you due to the prevailing safekeeping description that feed us
here in our out station Nevada, US. I was assigned to deliver two sealed
consignment boxes to you by the united nation, This Two consignment boxes
contain the sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars, as your
overdue inheritance payment after the World War II in 1939-45. please include
your name and self phone number when reply
Acknowledge the receipt of the mail and get back to Mr Mac White for more
details:officeu3@aol.com
Best Regards,
Dip. Mac White
Diplomatic Base Texas (TX) USA
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Anti-fraud resources:
