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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)
- 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.
- r_wilken@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "WESTERN UNION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rosemary.clair9@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 00:09:35 +0200
Subject: WE HAVE DISPATCHED YOUR DIPLOMAT AND YOUR CONSIGNMENT.....
WE HAVE DISPATCHED YOUR DIPLOMAT AND YOUR CONSIGNMENT.
Scammed Victim Compensation.
Since the resumption of our New President His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, He found out that the Previous Gorvernor of CBN refuse to credit/pay your funds to you, Investigation also revealed that After all promises to make payments to you, all efforts has failed.
The new president has commissioned The Debt Management Office to take care of future payments of all Owed/Scammed Beneficiary.
We have deployed Diplomat Ronald Wilken to your location to deliver this consignment to you as soon as possible, As i write you this email he has arrived San Diego International Airport.
You must contact him within 24 hours to confirm your full/current delivery address and a valid phone number to enable him deliver your consignment containing your Money in the amount of $2,995,000 to you unfailingly this week.
You can contact him now either by email or phone r_wilken@aol.com or call him on 707-809-5662.
Sincerely yours.
Dr. Abraham Nwankwo
Director-General
Debt Management Office Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
