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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:
- "insurance 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. )
- "security keeping 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. )
- "diplomatcole1@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Philips Arinze" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <philipsarinze@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 01:58:10 -0700
Subject: Please confirm receipt.
Attn Beneficiary,
Going by series of petition received from International Body on the way the payment of you inheritance fund are handled by our correspondence office. After Extensive close door meeting with Board of Directors and other Stake holders in the Government, Subcommittees of the House Of Assembly and the House of Rep ,President Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was Resolved and Agreed upon that your Inheritance Fund would be released on a special method of payment,which tag Name Reads SWIFT CREDIT CARD.
I have sent you an email waiting for you since to come down here and pick your (ATM CARD) or instruct me on where to send it but did not hear from you since that time,then I went and deposited your ATM CARD with Global Security Company here in Nigeria for safe keeping, because I traveled to London for my master degree course and will not come back till November 2011.
You have to contact the Global Trust Company to know when they will deliver your package.I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee as instructed by my boss.The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee Don't be deceived by any body This is there Contact Address Contact Dr. Cole Forrest Director Global Trust Company Nigeria. E-mail; (diplomatcole1@live.com) Phone number +23418989122 Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee.
Reconfirm your delivery address to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivering once you are ready.
Let me know as soon as you receive your Funds .
Best Regards
Mr Philips Arinze.
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