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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22995300199 (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.
  • fedex.courierservices95@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john emene" <emenejohn@klikni.cz>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 20:06:46 +0200
Subject: URGENT AND CONTACT FEDEX FOR YOUR PACKAGE


Good Day to you.

How are you today, Hope all is well with you and your family,I have been
waiting for you since concerning your Confirmable bank Draft of $1.2 million
United States Dollars but I did not hear from you since that time.

Well i have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft,and i went to the bank to
know if the cheque is still valid before i can send to you,but the manager
of Eko Bank Benin told me that before the cheque will get to you that it
will expire,
So i told him to cash the $1.2 million US dollars to cash payment to avoid
losting the fund under expiration as I will be out of the country for a 6
Months Course.

Now all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.2 million US dollars
in cash was made with Fedex Express Company Cotonou,For your information, I
have paid for the delivering Charge and Insurance premium,The only money you
will send to the Fedex Express Company to deliver your Consignment direct to
your postal Address in your country is ($105.00 US) One Hundred & Five
United States Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company
so far.

Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $105.00 US
Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know
when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.

What you have to do now is to contact the Fedex Express Company as soon as
possible to know when they will deliver your package,because of the expiring
date.This is the Registeration number ML0445/14587/06 of your consignment ,
You have to contact the Fedex Express Company for the delivery of your
consignment with this information bellow.

Contact;DR. Ganni Adam.
Email Address:(fedex.courierservices95@yahoo.fr)
Phone Number +229-95300199 .

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

Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director general of
Fedex Express Company DR GANNI ADAMS with the address given to you and ask
them to give you the tracking number to enable you track and trace your
package to know when it will get to your address.

Note,the Fedex Express Company don't know the contents of the Box, I
registered it as a Box of an Photographic Material,they don't know it
contents money.
This is to avoid them delaying with the Box, don't let them know
that is money that is in that Box ok.I am waiting for your urgent response.
You can even call the Director of Fedex Express Company with this line
+229-95-300-199.

Thanks and Remain Blessed.

Secretay,Mr John Emene.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam