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:

• 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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "the diplomat " ("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. )
  • "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• 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.
  • +22993890522 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "martin david" <martindavid03@mobimail.mn>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 16:52:46 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COURIER SERVICE FOR YOUR PACKAGE.


Dear Friend.

How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee for
your Cheque Draft.

And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting
near to expire and

Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO)
told me that before the

cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.

So I told him to cash the US$1.200, 000.00 UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash
payment to avoid losting

this funds.However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
US$1.200, 000.00 UNITED

STATES DOLLARS in cash was made with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE PLC. in Cotonou
Benin Republic,

Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO)
Cotonou have to package

the sum of US$1.200, 000.00 UNITED STATES DOLLARS in cash for me. Then he
also agreed to help me

to Register the Consignment with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE PLC. Infact I'm happy
that every movement

I made goes normally.

As for our agreement with the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE PLC. they promised that
your consignment

will leave this Country on monday next week,But the Director of the FEDEX
COURIER SERVICE PLC .

said that they need your contacts informations to able them meet up with you
immediately the

Diplomat Agent arrived to your Country.

Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
ATTN: Mr.Robert Mosker.
TEl: +229-9389-0522
EMAIL: fedexcourierservice06@live.fr

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.

Name
Home Address
Age
Sex
Country
Occoupation
Personal telephone number
Your I D Card / Passport

Please make sure you send this needed info?mation to the Director general of
FEDEX COURIER

SERVICE PLC, with their address given stated above.Note.The FEDEX COURIER
SERVICE PLC don't know

the contents of the Box. I registered it as a BOX of an Africa cloths. 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. I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even
call the Director of the

company with this line:+229-9389-0522

Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Mr.Martin David.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam