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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "abuja" (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: "Amb Stuart Symington" <info@usa.net>
Reply-To: <usdip20@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2017 18:52:11 -0500
Subject: Your Consignment Is Ready For Dispatch
U.S EMBASSY ABUJA
PLOT 1075 DIPLOMATIC DRIVE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AREA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
PHONE: (234)-9-461-400
http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html
Dear Sir/Madam,
You are here by informed about the official meeting held with President Muhammadu Buhari of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister for Finance concerning unpaid & unclaimed funds for foreign beneficiaries.
I was very annoyed when I discovered that you are yet to receive you funds, that is was why I decided to help you deliver the funds to your home address.
I will be coming for an official meeting to I will come along with your consignment box containing the sum of (Two million five hundred thousand United States Dollars).
Therefore urge you to furnish me with your information as stated below:
Name in full:
Address:
Copy Of International passport/Identity Card:
Cell phone Number:
Age/Occupation:
Note your consignment will be registered as diplomatic package that will help me defeat all odds, this will cost you $185 to have it delivered to you as diplomatic package without a hitch from the customs and other security agencies at the airport.
The fee will have to be paid within 24hours in other to have the registration process stated.
Enjoy your new year in advance.
Sincerely,
Amb Stuart Symington
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Anti-fraud resources:
