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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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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 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.
- undcs.deliveries@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: BILLIE JEAN PEARSON <billiejpearson202@gmail.com>
Reply-To: undcs.deliveries@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2022 09:57:42 +0100
Subject: PACKAGES
--
Attention My Dear,
I am Mrs. Billie Jean Pearson the director general of DHL COURIER
COMPANY Benin republic. We wish to inform you that our diplomatic
agent conveying your Packages worth $23.7m USD is at the Airport right
now and he is currently waiting to hear from you so as to finalize the
delivery. We advice you reconfirm the following information below to
him so that he can deliver your consignment to you today.
NAME: ========
COUNTRY: =====
HOME ADDRESS: =====
MOBILE NO.: ====
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIR PORT: =======
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: =====
Please do contact our diplomatic agent with the email and phone number
below with your full information as listed above required.
Name of agent: Fred Miller
Phone number: +1 915 440 0863. Call or text him on this phone number.
Email: (undcs.deliveries@yahoo.co.uk)
E-mail him now, He is waiting to hear from you today with the information.
Regards
Mrs. Billie Jean Pearson
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