joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "the 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993477794 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • gtcservice0@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: paul_akuma@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 12:16:46 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re=3A=20Good=20News=20?=

Hello,

Good day, how are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have paid
the fee for your Cheque Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if the
Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director
of Financial Bank told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that
it will expire.

So I told him to make the Draft to cash payment to avoid losing this fund.
However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the money in cash was
made with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER SERVICE here in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr.
Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Bank Cotonou has package the USD in
cash for you. Then he also agreed to help me to register the Consignment
with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER SERVICE. Infect I thank God very much for all
the movement I made to see that every thing goes normally.

As for our agreement with the Global Trust Courier Service they promised
that your consignment will leave this Country on or before Monday next week,
But the Director of the GLOBAL TRUST COURIER SERVICE said that they need
your contacts information to able them meet up with you immediately the
Diplomat Agent arrived to your Country. Please write a letter of application
to the given address below.
ATTN: Mr. Eric Abel
Tell: +229 934 77794
EMAIL:(gtcservice0@yahoo.fr)
Website: http://gtcservice.ifrance.com/
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately
they arrived in your country with your BOX. This is what they need from
you.

1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
6.Age

Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general
of Global Trust Courier Company Mr. Eric Abel with the address given to
you.
Note this. The Global Trust courier company doesn't know the contents of
the Box. I registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloth. They did not know
the contents were money. This is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don't
let them know that box contents money ok.

I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even call the Director of
Global Trust Courier Service with this line: +229 934 77794

Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Mr.PAUL AKUMA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam