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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +229930176461 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- shalom_info_service220@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: barristerhall@elvigiaensenada.com
Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:34:13 +0100
Subject: Re: CONTACT THE DELIVERY COMPANY FOR YOUR FUND
Attention,
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but
the manager
of Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin told me that before the
check will get
to you that it will expire.So i told him to cash $800,000.00
all the
necessary arrangement of delivering the $800,000.00 in cash
was made with SHALOM
COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR.
Below is the needed information to enable them deliver your
fund to you immediately. the only fee you have to pay them
is $99 usd that they will use to obtain insurance
certificate and claims of affadvite that will prove that the
parcel that consist total sum of $800,000.00 belong to you
be
rest assure that all other fees have been paid by me.
SHALOM COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR
PROFFESOR.REV.MAXWELL SHARGAN
EMAI ( shalom_info_service220@yahoo.fr
PHONE NUMBER===== 00229 930 176 46
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTUREA
6.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO EG58945
7.CODE NMBER 0140479
Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director
general of shalom Courier Company PROFFESOR.REV.MAXWELL
SHARGAN with the address given to you. Note ;The SHALOM
Delivery COURIER COMPANY LTD don't know the contents of the
Box. I registered it as a Box of family valuable belongs.
They don't know it contents fund. this is to avoid them
delaying with the Box. don't let them know that is money
that is in that Box.I am waiting for your
urgent response.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
barrister hall
Anti-fraud resources: