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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "registration fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "million 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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- dhl_inter177@yahoo.fr
- 3adhl_inter177@yahoo.fr
Fraud email example:
From: "jerrywine3 Gazeta.pl" <jerrywine3@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:18:03 +0100
Subject: CONTACT DELIVERY COMPANY FOR YOUR FUND
Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my surcess regarding the arrangment for
the delivery of your bank draft but the manager of eko bank told me that
before the check will get to you that it will expire so i told him to cash
the $2.5 million dollars
All the delivery arrangement of the $2.5, in cach has been made with DHL
COURIER COMPANY and i have paid for the delivery fee together with the
registration fee which cost me $480 except for the insurance fee $87 dollars
which
ouare to send to the DHL COURIER COMPANY to enable them carry out the
transaction.
Contact them with the bellow information and they will instruct you where to
send the $87 to them,do comply with them and let me know when you recieve
your fund.
Name Of Director: Dr.JERRY WINE
Email:dhl_inter177@yahoo.fr <Email%3Adhl_inter177@yahoo.fr>
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.MOBILE PHONE NUMBER
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
6.YOUR AGE
7.YOUR OCCUPATION
Best Regards
MR. JERRY WINE
Anti-fraud resources: