joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447011149191 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448712514063 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Fedexcourierd Eliverydept <fedexcourierdeliveryd_ept@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:25:45 +0100 (BST)
Subject: YOUR IDENTIFICATION NEEDED URGENTLY TO ENABLE PROCEED SECURING THE BRITISH FINANCE DEPARTMENT APPROVAL


56, Veronica Avenue,
Opposite Newslads Park,
London, United Kingdom.
Tell: +44 70 111 49191
Tell: +44 70 111 49191
Fax:+44 871 25 140 63

Dear Robert Duerrmacher,


This is to officially notify you that we are in charge of the delivery of your winning prize cheque of 120,000GBP and a Winning Certificate that was deposited with us in your names by the UK Guinness Stout Promotion Manager, Mrs. Joy Owen alongside their Verification Officer Mr. Jones Bell.

Moreso, we want to inform you that your package has been insured by the Guinness company, and is now awaiting the approval of the British Finance Department for delivery to be effected.

We therefore appeal to you sincerely to bear with us until we secure approval from them to carry out the delivery, this we honestly believe that we shall be able to secure in less than 4hours, and as soon as we secure this approval from them we shall get back to you with the C.O.D/F( Cost of Delivery Charge/Fee) which you will have to pay for the cheque prize to be dispatched / deliverred to your home destination(address) by our dispatch officers.


Finally, you will have to scan and send to us as an e-mail attachment your Driver's Licence or Passport Photograph for the Purpose of identifying you as the true and bonifide owner of the won prize by our Dispatch / Delivery Officers at the time of arrival in your country, and it must be noted that we shall not emback on the delivery of this package without receiving the scanned copy of either your Driver's Licence or Passport Photograph, as we shall not take responsibility if the cheque goes into wrong hands/ person's pocket for carelessness or negligence on your part.

Thanks.

Mr. Harry Duff
General Manager,
Fedex Courier Company UK


---------------------------------
Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your freeaccount today.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam