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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "@diplomats.com" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- email.brinks_logistics112@diplomats.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: " Albert Chainer" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcent8@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 May 2017 21:16:34 +0100
Subject: Contact person.Dr.Babados Kentigal
Dear Friend,
I have registered Your ATM CARD of USD1.8 Million Dollars with Brinks Logistics Express Courier Company with registration code of (Shipment Code awb 33xzs).Contact with your delivery Mailing Address:such as,details as follows:Names:Mailing Address:Phone number:
Forward all delivery informations to the Brinks Logistics Service for the delivery of your ATM Master Card payment.
Contact person.Dr.Babados Kentigal
Email.brinks_logistics112@diplomats.com
Telephone.+229 988 54 775
You have to contact their office on how to receive your ATM Master Card payment as instructed by the Global Finance Org.
Regards
Albert Chainer
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Anti-fraud resources:
