|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- +22993401550 (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.
- apexcouriercompany001@yahoo.fr
- 3aapexcouriercompany001@yahoo.fr
Fraud email example:
From: "office feli05" <office_feli05@telegraf.by>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:37:18 +0200
Subject: CONTACT APEX COURIER AND SECURITY COMPANY LTD
My Dear Good Friend,
I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft,but the manager of Eco Bank Africa
Plc Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire.
So i told him to cash sum $2.5Million us Dollars and all the necessary
arrangement has be made for the delivering sum of $2.5Million us Dollars in
cash with the APEX COURIER AND SECURITY COMPANY LIMITED to deliver the
package to your doorstep.
You are required to provide your personal information for them to delivering
your package to your addresss within 72hrs and YOU HAVE TO WRITE LETTER OF
APPLICATION TO THIS GIVING ADDRRESS BELLOW.
Contact: Director:Sir Waheed Tafar
2nd Contact Person:Operation Manager:Mr Abel Didier
EMAIL:apexcouriercompany001@yahoo.fr<EMAIL%3Aapexcouriercompany001@yahoo.fr>
Tel:+229 93401550.
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
Sincerely
BARR.ROBERT MARK(ESQ)
Anti-fraud resources:
