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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:
- "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)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("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 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.
- mike33kelvin44@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Charles James <sergiodonati1@tin.it>
Reply-To: mike33kelvin44@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2018 12:12:16 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONDS IS NEEDED NOW
CONSIGNMENT DELIVERY
Copy the email below and contact the diplomat asap ....
Consignment Box worth the sum of $ 3.7m
(Three Million, seven Hundred Thousand Usd) without VAT (Value Added
Tax)
has arrived your Country Safety.
You are invited to contact Diplomat Mike Kelvin
on Email ... (mike33kelvin44@yahoo.com)His Phone No +1(770) 919-5481
immediately with the following information -
Your Full name .........................
Your Occupation .......................
Your Home Address ......................
Your Nearest Airport ..............
Your Cell Number .......................
Your Sex.......................
for the express delivery of your package with reference no. # 954-2327.
It is the sole responsibility for ensuring that your packages is
delivered to you without any delay.
Please cooperate with him and do not hesitate to report any misconduct
to the undersigned.
Regards
Charles James
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Anti-fraud resources:
