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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • +22997928417 (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.
  • graylinkexpresscourie.benin@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barry Favour" <barryfavour@btconnect.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 21:25:54 -0000
Subject: CONTACT THE GRAYLINK EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY

Dear Friend,
 
It has been long we communicate last, am so sorry for the delay, I want to Inform you that your cheque of ($1.3Million) Which my boss asked me to mail to you as soon as you requested it, Is Now with the courier Company, And the Name of the Company is GRAYLINK EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
 
But due to some minure issue you fails to respond at the Approprete time, and presently the cheque is with them here Waiting for you to Come and pick it or you send them your Address where you want them to delivered the Cheque in Your Country Immediately.
 
What you have to do now is to Contact them with your Phone Number, your Postal Address, and your Full Name, so that they will not do Mistake when deliverring the check.
 
Secondly, You have to send to them again, which the company said that it will cost you only $125 to Delivered the cheque to your Destinated Address without delay, Please Contact them and register with them now, because this is the Opportunity for you to receive your cheque.
 
Only what you will Contact them with is your Phone number, and Address, and full Name to Avoid wrong Delivery, You should also tell the Company to give you the Information and how you will send them the Delivery fee $125 Immediately you Contacted them before the cheque $1.3 Million will be delivered to your Door step.

Below is their contact informations:
Email address:  graylinkexpresscourie.benin@yahoo.fr
Contact person name is ( Mr. Chris Bala)
Direct Cell.......+229-9792-8417.
 
Please do get back to me as soon as you have contacted the security Company so that i can be able to Addvice you on how your cheque will be Delivered to your Destinated address Immediately.
 
Regards.
Mr. Barry Favour.

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam