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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: mrs ann bello <mrmendelssohndaniel@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsannbello10@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2022 03:10:34 +0100
Subject: urgent reply is needed
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Am the official USA Federal Express courier diplomat Mr Mendelssohn
Daniel who was called by the USA Customs in Norfolk International
airport to deliver your consgnment box worth sum $19.500.000.00 USD to
you, Please am confused who is Mr.Johnson Edward who was calling me to
deliver the consignment box to his home address as your next of kin,
Are you also answering Mr.Johnson Edward ? I will need your correct
information to deliver this consignment box to you...Urgent forward
your information to enable me confirm the right information,
Note that both of the fee including the delivery fee has been paid and
the only fee you will pay is the $25 only for the security keeping fee
of your package in the airport. Urgent Reply now, Best Regards federal
Express Mr Mendelssohn Daniel.
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Anti-fraud resources:
