|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "the 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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "a 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.David Murray" <david1wilson02@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officerinspector@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 May 2021 14:05:38 +0100
Subject: YOUR CONSIGNMENT IS STILL AVAILABLE
Attention
I'm Mr. David Murray Head Officer in Charge, Administrative Service
Inspection Unit United Nations Inspection Agency in Hartsfield -Jackson
International Airport Atlanta, Georgia.
During our investigation, I discovered an abandoned shipment through a
Diplomat from the United Kingdom which was transferred from JF Kennedy
Airport to our facility here in Atlanta, and when scanned it revealed an
undisclosed sum of money in 2 Metal Trunk Boxes weighing approximately
130kg.
The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly
declared by the consignee as
money rather it was declared as a personal effect/classified document to
either avoid diversion by the Shipping Agent or confiscation by the
relevant authorities. The diplomat's inability to pay for Non Inspection
fees among other things are the reason why the consignment is delayed and
abandoned.
By my assessment, each of the boxes contains about $8M or more. they
are still left in the airport storage facility till today.
|
Anti-fraud resources: