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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:
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: " MORRISON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <albertscottmore@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2018 06:30:08 -0700
Subject: ...................................DIPLOMATIC LUGGAGE...............................................................
This is A DIPLOMATIC LUGGAGE..
ATTN:
I AM MR ALBERT SCOTT MORRISON A DIPLOMAT ASSIGNED FROM THE ECOWAS COMMISSION OFFICER FROM ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES REGION.
I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AFTER GOING THROUGH YOUR PAYMENT FILE IN MY OFFICE THIS MORNING, I FOUND OUT THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT. BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT. FROM ALL THE INFORMATION AND RECORDS I SAW IN YOUR FILE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE RECEIVED YOUR FUND PAYMENT BY NOW AS YOUR FILE DOES NOT REFLECT THE ONE THAT IS STILL PENDING TO DELIVER .
IN VIEW OF THIS, I AM WRITING TO KNOW FROM YOU TO EXPLAIN VIVIDLY TO ME WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR FUND SO THAT I MAY KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT.
YOU ARE ALSO ADVISED TO CALL ME ON THE FOLLOWING LINE: + 1 469-712-5160 FOR MORE CLARIFICATION AND DIRECTIVES.
I AM ANTICIPATING YOUR TOTAL COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING SO THAT I CAN SERVE YOU BETTER.
THANKS
MR ALBERT SCOTT MORRISON
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Anti-fraud resources:
