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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)
- "cotonou" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: MINISTERE DES FINANCES <teruomacti@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: MINISTERE DES FINANCES <forrecom@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 19:48:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your Arrival Code: SCC-SWIFT ASSURANCE
MINISTERE DES FINANCES ET DE L'ECONOMIE (M.F.E)
Treasury Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances
Direction of l'Economie, des Finances
01 B.P. 3621, Cotonou, Benin
Telephone: 00 229 61 51 34 16
Attn
I’m here to let you know that we have succeeded in moving out your sealed consignment box valued $6.5 Million USD yesterday through help of our Head Controller here through help of the Foreign Remittance Committee Chairman and your consignment will arrive Cargo Center at (HUL) Houlton International Airport in Maine for final exit and you will need to travel down to Houlton Airport for clearing your sealed box from the Immigration sorting outfit to avoid undergoing inspection.
These are the details you need for personal identification at point of collection
Arrival Code: SCC-SWIFT ASSURANCE
Deposit No: SCC-CDS-101-PL45
Security Ref: SCC-420-10015
For Delivery Personnel: Call 1 206 317 4643 and speak with Diplomat Edward Maxwell  because it's he that will accompany the delivery of your consignment to your door step and you need to call or send him SMS fast to know if your consignment has arrived to the Clearing Center before going to meet him for clearance.
Please get in touch with him immediately to confirm and keep me posted as soon as you can to know when he delivers your package to you as to close your file.
Thanks your for patient.
Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Benson William Owen
Director for Foreign Remittance Committee
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Anti-fraud resources:
