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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:
- "certificate 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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "clearance certificate" (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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- +2348057547555 (Nigeria, 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.
- fedex_delivery71@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Virgil Storrs" <info@fedex.com>
Reply-To: fedex_delivery71@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:05:36 -0500
Subject: You Have A Package: Contact FedEx!
Greetings!
I have been waiting for you to contact me as regards your Bank Draft
of $800,000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you. so
I went and deposited the Draft with FedEx COURIER SERVICE, West
Africa, I traveled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I
will not come back till the end of March 2009. What you have to do
now is to contact the FedEx COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to
know when they will deliver your package to you. For your
information, I have paid for the delivery Charge, Insurance premium
and Clearance Certificate Fee for the Cheque showing that it is not
Drug Money or money meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your
Country.
The only money you will send to the FedEx COURIER SERVICE to deliver
your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($180.00
USD) only; being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, do not be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except
$180.00 USD Dollars. I would have paid
that but they said no because
they do not know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.
You have to contact the FedEx COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of
your Draft with this information below;
Contact Person: Mr. Benny Blunt
Email Address:fedex_delivery71@yahoo.com.hk
Customer care Telephone: +2348057547555.
Finally, make sure that you confirm your Postal address; Direct
telephone number; Do send it to them again to avoid any mistake on
the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable
you track your package over there and know when it will get to your
address. Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you
receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them
their Security Keeping fee of $180.00 US Dollars for their immediate
action. You should also let me know through email as soon as you
receive your Draft.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Virgil Storrs
Anti-fraud resources:
