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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "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)
- "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: =?UTF-8?B?cGVycnkgV2hpdGU=?= <adenico@speedy.com.ar>
Date:
Subject:
Good Day.
My name is Perry White Kabrina from British Airway Ware=
house/delivery
Department Cotonou, Republic of Benin. We have ATM Card a=
nd Consignment that was
register on your name to be delivered to you, bu=
t we could not make
the delivering to you due to the order we receive fr=
om British and
Benin government that before we make any delivery, that w=
e should
investigate the source and origin of the consignment or parcel =
contain
(fund).
After due investigate on your behalf, your ATM Ca=
rd and Consignment is
free of any illicit activities such as Terrorist, =
Money laundering and
Drug. We are proficient with our investigation and =
your ATM Card and
Consignment is ready for delivering to you. We need yo=
ur correct home
address.
Note: the delivery charges will be handle by=
you.
Sincerely yours,
Perry White Kabrina
British Airway =
Warehouse/ delivery Department
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Anti-fraud resources:
