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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Kelly Brown" <kellybrown20@gala.net>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 14:32:36 +0200
Subject: CONTACT FedEx DIRECTOR MR.WILLIAMS THOMPSON.


ALHAJI AND ALHAJI
HOLDINGS.
SECRETARY OFFICE.
COUNSELORS AT LAW
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA AGALAN
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF
BENIN.
Dear Friend,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Cashier's
Cheque which was given to me by my Boss, Alhaji Dangote to keep till you
contacted me. This Cashier's Cheque worth US$1.5M but I did not heard from
you since that time , then I went and deposited the Cashier's Cheque with
FedEx Courrier company here in Benin Republic , because I am travelling to
Iraq to see my Boss and will not come back till Three months time. You have
to contact the FedEx Courier company to know when they will deliver your
package . I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.

The only money they will ask you, to send to them is their security keeping
fee which is $150 to received your package. Don't be deceived by any body,
this is the only expenses you will incur and your Cashier's Cheque will be
delivered to your address. This is the Contact Address of Mr Williams
Thompson, Director, FedEx Courier service company, Cotonou, Benin Republic.


E-mail: (fedexcourierfile@hotmail.com)
Phone number +229 97013583.

You should try and contact them immediately because the Cashier's Cheque has
validity date as is the case with all Cashier's cheque all over the World. I
gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them again
to avoid wrongful delivering. And once more, you should bear in mind that
this US$150 is the only expenses you will incur and the Cashier's Cheque
will be delivered to your address as you provided. Hence get them to give
you the information which you will use to send the US$150 to them and
instruct the Director in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr Williams Thompson to get
the delivery of your Cashier's Cheque to your address without any further
delay.

YOUR FULL NAME-------------
CONTACT ADDRESS------------
TELEPHONE NUMBER-----------
FAX NUMBER-----------------

Please, Do Let me know as soon as you receive your Draft .

Thanks

Barrister Kelly Brown

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