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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:
- 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +22993017620 (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.
- fedexcouriercompanyltd07@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "arnold what name" <arnoldben13@nsk.biz>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 17:54:24 +0200
Subject: Attention My? Dear,
Attention My? Dear,
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of
Financial trust Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you
that it will expire.So i told him to cash the total sum of $850.000.00 in
cash however? all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $850.000.00 in
cash was made with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD.
Be inform that i have pay for the delivery fee of the consignment the only
money you have to send them is office keeping fee which is $158 Usd,
Do contact them and let me know when you have recieve your fund, below is
the needed information to enable them deliver your fund to you immediately.
FEDEX COURIER COMPANY LTD.
DIRECTOR Dr. Usman Moore
Telephone==+229-93-01 76 20
EMAIL===(fedexcouriercompanyltd07@gmail.com
Your Full Name--------------
Your Address----------------
Home telephone--------------
Office telephone------------
Your picture----------------
Your company registration number ---------EM5507439
Code number-----------------48SEIO41
Do let me know immediately you receive your consignment that consist your
fund that i deposited in the Fedex courier company Ltd .so that we can share
the joy togerther,
Best regard
Barrister Arnold. More Esq
Anti-fraud resources:
