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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- +447024096966 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- firstflightdeliveryservice10@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "IKOBO COMPANY MID YEAR PROMOTIONS" <info@ikobo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: firstflightdeliveryservice10@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:21:11 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: YOUR FILE FOR CLAIMS!!!
iKobo Customer Support,
M2 Financial 2301 Maitland Center Parkway
Suite 240 Maitland,United Kingdom.
Dear Sir/Madam
This is to officially inform you that a ikobo Visa Card has been accredited
in your favor in the ikobo Fiscal Year 2010/Mid-Year swift take off
Promotion which is usually done for all internet email users at the middle
of every year. The ikobo/Visa Card is Value with the total sum of
($2,500,000.00) Two Million, five hundred thousand United States Dollars.
You are advice to contact Dr.John Gibson of first flight delivery service
in the United Kingdom with the below information to ensure prompt
delivery.
FULL NAME: DELIVERY ADDRESS: AND TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Contact Person: Dr.John Gibson
(Courier Dispatch Officer)
Email:firstflightdeliveryservice10@gmail.com
Tel:+44 702 409 6966
Thanks for your co-operation.
Mrs.Lisa Wright
Director Of Foreign Operations
iKobo Funds Remittance Department
iKobo Inc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
