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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)
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "the diplomat " ("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 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.
- 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.
- anita.nwekeze@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev.Fr.Basile Forster" <.Forster@voice.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Rev.Fr.Basile Forster" <anita.nwekeze@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2016 21:29:10 +0900 (JST)
Subject: VERY URGENT
Good news our dear beneficiary, this is to inform you about your consignment box that worth about (SEVEN Million United State Dollars). This compensation payment has been approved by the Benin Government, with the help of Rev Fr Basile Forster. Simply contact Diplomat Anita Nwekeze on her email address anita.nwekeze@gmail.com, with your Full Name....................
Country......................
Mobile phone No..............
House address................
Your Nearest airport.........
Your personal code to the box is XLA21492014SD, and the color is silver. NB indicate this code to the diplomat Anita, so that she can no that you are the rightful owner of the box. Note that this is from the Bank Of Africa funding and support programme where your name where selected through a carefully African web gathering of data in electronic base systems. For more information you can contact to the office of the director dhl company Mr AHMED YAKI, on +229 99 98 48 66.
Best regard
Rev.Fr.Basile Forster
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