|
|
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:
- 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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("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. )
- 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.
- +22993942868 (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.
- ifexexpress@net.hr
- ifexexpress.diplomaticcourier@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "jANNY SAMULEH" <jsamuleh8@unimail.mn>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:27:02 +0100
Subject: CALL DR FRANCIS TO HAVE YOUR CONSIGNMENT
Hello Dear,
How are you and family today?hope fine.this to inform you that i went
to the issuing bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting
near to expire and Prof.Kofi Williams the Director of AFRICA
DEVELOPMENT BANK told me that before the cheque will get to your hand
that it will expire and I told him to cash the $2.40000.00 USD UNITED
STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losing this funds under
expiration. However, all the necessary arrangement for delivering the
$2.40000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS in cash was made with IFEX
EXPRESS DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICES here in Benin Republic.
Secondly,Prof.Kofi Williams the Director of AFRICA DEVELOPMENT BANK
Cotonou has package the funds in cash for you and he also helped me to
Register the Consignment with IFEX EXPRESS DIPLOMATIC COURIER
SERVICES.As for our agreement with the Courier company promised that
your package will leave this Country on or before 5 days from now, But
the Director of the company said that they need your contacts
informations to enable them meet up with you immediately.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
NAME:Dr Francis Westlaw.
TELE PHONE NUMBER +229 93942868.
Email (ifexexpress@net.hr or
ifexexpress.diplomaticcourier@googlemail.com)
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX.Note this,The
Ifex Express Diplomatic Courier Company don't know the contents of the
Box we registered as a BOX of an Africa Fabrics and they don't know
that the contents is money. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX
so don't let them know the contents of the box for security reasons.
Regards.
Mrs. J.Samuleh.
Anti-fraud resources: