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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:
- "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)
- "liberia" (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 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.
- kojo.george@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: KOJO GEORGE <kojo_george107@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <kojo.george@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:09:26 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY
Hello Sir / MaHow are you doing? My name is Kojo George and I am 12 years old from Liberia. I got your contact in the Refugee camp, and learned that you are a trustful and reliable person. My consignment was supposed to be delivered to one Mr.Peter Austin in London. When the Diplomat arrived there he called Mr.Peter Austin to pick him up, but unfortunately Mr.Peter Austin' wife answered the phone and told the diplomat that her husband has given up the ghost. The diplomat called me that we should look for a new beneficiary, that Mr.Peter Austin is dead. the boxes contain ($20.5million U.S dollars) and Gold Dust 80kg but Sir I did not want the Diplomat to be aware of the content inside the boxes. If you are interested to stand as new beneficiary Please try and get back to me through my email (kojo.george@yahoo.com).God Bless.Kojo George
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Anti-fraud resources:
