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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "@diplomats.com" ("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.
- unhcr.uk@diplomats.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Vincent Cochetel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unhcr.uk@mail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2017 11:23:05 +0200
Subject: UN AMBASSADORIAN APPOINTMENT
Dear sir/madam,
Goodday to you.
We are obliged to let you know that the UN Headquaters in New York has appointed you as an 'AMBASSABOR'to represent the African
refugees to the United Kingdom. The meeting was held yesterday at the UN's Head Office In New York, and our agency received a
communique to act upon the decision.
I hereby advise you to forward details of yourself to us so that we can do due deligence in regards to your information and your
person and pass your details to the UN's office in the United Kingdom Liaizon,this is so because an appropriate fund has been assigned
and will be issued out in order to be used in helping the refugees over there in the United Kingdom,and also to enlist you in the
'WHITE BOOK' and relay to you an official letter from UNITED NATION HEAD OFFICE NEW YORK regarding to this appointment.
Awaiting your reply, you can also reach me with this Number +447938606861 or with this Email:- unhcr.uk@diplomats.com for futher
information.
Dr. Vincent Cochetel
Head of UNHCR
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Anti-fraud resources:
