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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:
- "high insurance policy" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "inland revenue board" (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. )
- "inland revenue board" (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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "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 fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- +447024091483 (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.
- ics_courier_delivery@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- revenueboard@hotmail.co.uk
Fraud email example:
From: INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS <ics_courier_delivery@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 21:57:40 +0000
Subject:
International Courier Systems{ICS}Customer/Delivery Services Department12 Ground Floor,Amburst Service,London E8 2BT,United Kingdom.TEL: +44 702 4091 483 +44 702 4091 691
Email: ics_courier_delivery@hotmail.com
Dear Winner,
This email is aimed at informing you of the current Status of your parcel delivery.We just received an electronically faxed email from our Delivery council stating that your parcel has been put on hold by the BRITISH INLAND REVENUE BOARD at London Heathrow Airport pending your fulfilment of the Non-UK Resident/UK Resident Tax Clearance. This current strategy is in line with the new HM and Customs regulations propagated to control Monetary Circulation in and out of the UK.This bill recently passed by the two Houses requires winners Non-UK Resident/UK Resident to authenticate their winning cheque before it leaves for delivery.
We therefore state that your winning parcel is intact and safely packaged in the HM and Customs office. We must inform you that your parcel cannot be accessed because it is covered by a HIGH INSURANCE POLICY .Also it is against the laws of the BRITISH GAMBLING BOARD for anyone to temper with your winning parcel at the time of Tax clearance.
You are advise to contact the BRITISH INLAND REVENUE BOARD with your phone number as soon as possible with the Information given below so they can release your winning parcel immediately to enable us undergo delivery.
Mr Terry Spence.HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS.21 Wilson Street, London,England EC2M 2TD. Tel Number +44 703 189 5011 Email: revenueboard@hotmail.co.uk
As soon as Tax clearance is completed. We shall be called upon to pick your winning parcel for delivery.We however apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR HARRISON BLAIR
(Client Services Manager).INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
