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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:
- "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 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. )
- "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 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. )
- "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 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. )
- "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. )
- "certified bank draft" (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. )
- "www.dhl@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Christiana Cole" <info@cole.com>
Reply-To: www.dhl@w.cn
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:05:11 +0800
Subject: Xmas Package !!!!
Blessing To You And Your Family.
We the management and staff of Chevron(Overseas) Oil Company have your email
address as a winner in our Christmas and New Year Celebration Email
Ballotting promotion and have deposited a certified Bank draft of $500.000.00
United States Dollars with the DHL Courier Company,West Africa for
collection.All you need to do now is to contact the DHL Courier Service as
soon as possible to no when they will deliver your package to you because of
the expiring date. For your information, We have paid for the Securety
Keeping fee, Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a
Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attacking your Country. The only
charges you will send to the DHL Courier Service to deliver your Draft direct
to your postal Address in your country is $150.00 US Dollars only being
payment for DHL Delivery Charges.
Note: That we would have paid the delivery charges but they said no because
they don't no when you will contact them and in case of any demurrage. You
have to contact the DHL Courier Service now for the delivery of your Draft
with this information bellow:
Contact Person: Mr.Charles Brown
Email Address: www.dhl@w.cn
Telephone: +234 7055 052189
Finally, make sure that you re-confirm your Postal address(s) and Direct
telephone number to them again toavoid any mistake on the Delivery.However,
try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further
delay and remember to pay them their Delivery charges fee of only $150.00 US
Dollars for their immediate action.You are to fill this form so that there
will be no mistake in dispacth period You should also let me
know through email as soon as you receive your Draft.
Yours Faithfully
Mrs.Christiana Cole
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