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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)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- agentjohnson011@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BEN JOHNSON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benjohnson50ag@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2018 03:37:24 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS VERY URGENT REPLY
Dear Beneficiary
I am Diplomat Ben Johnson this email is coming to you from UN Foreign Payment department office Washington DC United States Your over due compensation fund from UBA Bank Of Africa which we agreed to deliver to you in fiscal cash payment the fund is already sealed and package with a security proof of a Consignment Box worth $25 Million United State Dollars Right now Im currently in Bellingham International Airport Washington DC United States of America As a Diplomatic Agent I want to let you know that Im waiting for you to forward your current delivery information
Quickly contact me with your full information as required so I must proceed to your house and deliver your Cash Consignment to you doorstep Your full name Current delivery address mobile phone number and your nearest airport So I can be able to locate your home immediately with your Consignment Box and to avoid delivering your fund to the wrong person
contact me right away with your full information and also can reach me at phone number::+1 (469) 629-2261 OR Email me (agentjohnson011@yahoo.com)
Best regards
Diplomat Agent Ben Johnson
UN Foreign Payment Officer
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Anti-fraud resources:
