|
|
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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
- +22997784481 (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.
- fed.exp.bn@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "john leo" <john.leo24@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 20:09:10 -0700
Subject: CONTACT THE FEDEX COMPANY BENIN
*My Dear,
I want to inform you that the fee for your Cheque Draft has been Paid
because i went to the Eco bank that issued the cheque to comfirm if the
cheque has expired and the manager of Eco Bank Benin told me that before the
check will get to you it will expire.
So i told him to cash the USD$3,000,000.00 USD, all the necessary
arrangement of delivering of the $3,000,000 USD in cash was made with FEDEX
COMPANY WORLD WIDE.Here is the contact of the fedex Company World Wide
bellow.
ATTN: MR JOSEPH UGO.
EMAIL: **fed.exp.bn@mail.ru* <fed.exp.bn@mail.ru>
*TEL: +22997784481
Please send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This the information
they need from in order to delivery your box to your address.
1.YOUR FULL NAME...
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS ....
3 YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.....
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.......
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE.........
Please make sure you send this needed informations to the Director general
Fedex Company world wild in Benin Mr JOSEPH UGO. with the address given to
you.Note. The fedex company here don't know the contents of theBox.
I registered it as a dameges of jeans returning to the retaler.
Note:The company don't know that the contents of the box is
money.Please don't let them to know that the contents of the Box is money to
avoid them from delaying with the box. I am waiting for your urgent
response.
Meanwhile the only fee you have to pay them is $185.00 USD for their
official keeping of your consignment and stamp duty fee. Be rest assure that
all other fees have been paid by me.
I am waiting for your urgent response.
Thanks
Mr John Leo.
*
Anti-fraud resources:
