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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "calvary greetings" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- kenneth.wyat@representative.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "CHRISTINE LAGARDE" <info@lavishbrasil.com>
Reply-To: kenneth.wyat@representative.com
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:57:37 -0300
Subject: TREAT THIS GENUINELY
DEAR BENEFICIARY ...
CALVARY GREETINGS TO YOU....
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY AND I PRAY THIS MAIL MEET YOU IN GOOD HEALTH AND IN SOUND MIND.
I AM CHRISTINE LAGARDE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND OFFICE HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA,I AM VISITING COUNTRIES AND CHECKING ANY DELAYED PARCEL AND WANTING TO KNOW WHY THE PARCEL IS BEEN DELAYED.I HAVE JUST CAME BACK FROM EUROPE CHECKING AND NOW AM VISITING AFRICA OFFICES.
I AM IN SOUTH AFRICA OFFICE NOW ON INVESTIGATION TO KNOW THE CAUSE OF ANY BENEFICIARY PARCEL AND MAKING SURE THAT ANY DELAYED PARCEL MUST LEAVE FOR ITS DELIVERY ADDRESS BY DHL AS SOON AS THE BENEFICIARY CAN BE CONTACTED VIA EMAIL OR PHONE CALL.
NOW ITS MY DUTY TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT I FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE YOUR ATM CARD WORTH $ 2.5 MILLION USD ,WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS BY DELIVERY AGENT,REASON FOR THE DELAY IS WHAT I FIND HARD TO UNDERSTAND.NOW WE HAVE ASSIGN MR KENNETH WYAT TO BE YOUR FIDUCIARY AGENT FROM IMF IN CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA.BELOW IS HIS CONTACT INFORMATION..
AGENT NAME : MR KENNETH WYAT ...
EMAIL ADDRESS CONTACT : kenneth.wyat@representative.com
CELL PHONE NUMBER : + 2763-571-3950
PLEASE SEND AND RECONFIRM YOUR DETAILS INFORMATION TO HIM SO THAT HE CAN REGISTER IT WITH DHL COURIER COMPANY FOR FAST DELIVERY.HAVE IT IN MIND THAT YOUR PARCEL WILL GET TO YOU WITH OUT ANY DELAY AND PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU BE AT HOME TO RECEIVE YOUR PARCEL BY THE DELIVERY MAN FROM DHL.PLEASE SEND MR KENNETH WYAT YOUR FULL DETAILS INFORMATION TO AVOID ANY DELAY IN DELIVERY.
Full Name And Age:
Valid Phone Number :
Current Home Address :
Current Email And Occupation:
PLEASE CONTACT MR KENNETH WYAT AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE MY EMAIL TO AVOID ANY UNDUE DELAY OF YOUR PARCEL TO YOUR ADDRESS FROM CAPE-TOWN SOUTH AFRICA TO YOUR DOOR STEP.
NOTE : THAT THE DELIVERY AND SECURITY KEEPING FEE HAVE BEEN SORTED AND PAID FOR BY IMF..THE ONLY MONEY YOU ARE PAYING IS $250 BEEN FOR THE CAPE-TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FREE MOVEMENT PERMIT FOR THE DELIVERY MAN,SO HE WONT BE HELD DOWN BY YOUR COUNTRY AIRPORT OFFICIAL AND HE WILL BE TRAVELING ALONG WITH MY LETTER OF PERMISSION FROM IMF,ALSO TO AVOID ANY DELAY BY YOUR AIRPORT OFFICIALS AS SOON AS THE $250 IS CONFIRMED BY THE AIRPORT ACCOUNTING OFFICER .
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
TRULY YOURS.
CHRISTINE LAGARDE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
