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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:
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "akin.yom" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akin_yomi1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:23:43 +0100
Subject: CALL ME
Attn;
I am so surprised you abandon your FUND here for a long time, i have made a FRESH arrangement to release your fund via DIPLOMATIC means which means some one will come to your house in your COUNTRY to deliver the FUND to your door step FACE to FACE.
Your are expected to send the name of your NEAREST airport and your ADDRESS to reach you in your house. the DIPLOMAT will be traveling to your country this week to meet you with your fund in one trunk box.
You should send the above requirements and your direct telephone number to reach you for easy communication because the DIPLOMAT will call you on getting to your airport so that you will go and pick him up with the consignment at your AIRPORT.
This is very serious and also there will be no disappointment in this arrangement. call me urgently on my direct phone number;+2348092529242.
Thanks.
Dr Akin Yomi,
Director Diplomatic Transfer Unit,
Office of the president.
Abuja Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
