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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +22993237876 (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.
- apex-express-courier@netcourrier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: bjoffice1@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:41:16 +0100
Subject: Contact for My Appreciation to You.
Dear Friend,
It is my pleasure to let you know about my success in
getting those fund transffered under the cooperation of a new partner
from Japan. I did not forget your past effort to assist me in
transfering those funds. And for that reason I have a compensation
reward of ($1,500,000.00) which I packaged in a Consignment Trunk Box
and registered it in your name as a Package of Photograpic Films.
Therefore contact the courier company immediately and ask them to send
you the Consignment Package of PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS which I registered in
your name.
Contact Person: Mr. Jorge Lobby (Courier Manager).
Apex
Express Courier Company, Calavi Republic of Benin.
Tel: +229 9323 7876.
Fax: +229 2821 3645
Email: apex-express-courier@netcourrier.com
Then
forward the below information to them for proper and direct
delivery:
(1) YOUR FULL NAME:______
(2) HOME ADDRESS:________
(3) Phone:______ CELL:_______
(4) AGE:_________________
(5)
SEX:_________________
(6) OCUPATION:___________
(7)
COUNTRY:_____________
(8) COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION CARD.
NB: Do not
tell anybody it is MONEY inside the consignment to avoid confiscation
ok.
Best regards,
Dr. Benson Jacob.
Anti-fraud resources:
