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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("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: "Diplomat Gabriel Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <j_siobhan@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2022 15:49:43 +0100
Subject: SHIPMENT DELIVERY APPROVED 18/12/2022
Dear Friend,
I am diplomat Gabriel Smith and I work with the UN (UNITED NATIONS) and Homeland Security & Customs as a diplomatic delivery agent.
I was sent to deliver two metallic trunk boxes to you by my government in conjunction with the UN (United Nations). Your delivery was approved by the United Nations and also the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The The content of your box contains your funds worth US$18.5 Million dollars (CASH) which was recovered from an African delivery agent by the name of � Jonathan Scott �. He was apprehended while on transit to Hong Kong and after a proper investigation was carried out by the security agents on duty, it was discovered that the consignment box in question was well.
He said some other delivery agent and himself were making away with your funds when he was caught and as we I think the other agent is still on the run but I am sure the Interpol will eventually get a hold of him.
Please you are to keep this very confidential in order not to ruin the ongoing investigation because the minute he gets an upfront wind of what is going on, he might go into hiding
which will definitely make things more difficult in catching them including retrieving the balance of your stolen funds.
However, I am in possession of Two boxes which contain US$18.5 Million and I have been instructed to have it delivered to your doorstep via diplomatic means.
Please you are to furnish me with your address including a direct phone number which you can be reached at all time because your details on documents backing the authenticity and the origin of your box was tampered with by the agent in order to eradicate all traces back to you but you know as the saying goes "man proposes and god disposes".
Please get back to me with these information and I would disclose more details on how your delivery will be finalized because I am still in the process of putting all relevant module in place so upon your response including all required information we will commence. For arriving at your doorstep.
Awaiting your swift response. I will be looking forward to hearing from you within 48hours.
.
We are glad to be of service to you.
Regards,
Diplomat Gabriel Smith
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