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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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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. )
- "fedexccltd07@zbavitu.net" (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.
- +447017027308 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +448719744576 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Edwin Williams <01@millered.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <fedexccltd07@zbavitu.net>
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:30:52 +0530
Subject: Urgent Respond For Your Package
Attention Dear,
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of standard chartered Bank UK told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.So i told him to cash $1.6 Million all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.6 Million in cash was made with FedEx COURIER EXPRESS COMPANY PLC.
Be inform that there are some documents to be secured.The only fee you have to send to them is $115 usd which will serve as the insurance fee and claims of affidavit to enable them deliver the parcel to you immediately.Do contact them and let me know when you have receive your fund,
below is the needed information to enable them deliver your fund to you immediately.
FEDEX COURIER EXPRESS COMPANY PLC
DIRECTOR Dr.Anthony Robert
ADDRESS: #6-8 BURLINGTON PARADE
Q2 WMK, NEW LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
PHONE:+447017027308
FAX: +448719744576
EMAIL=== ( fedexccltd07@zbavitu.net )
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
5.CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS
Do let me know immediately you receive your consignment that consist-your fund that i deposited in the courier EXPRESS company so that we can share the joy together.
BEST REGARD
Mr Edwin Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
