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:

• 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:
  • "money transfer control number" (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. )
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (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. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +2347055000827
  • 23401
• 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.
  • expressdelivery.fedexcourier@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: expressdelivery.fedexcourier@googlemail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:05:14 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MR.THOMPSON BROWN FOR YOUR PACKAGE I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE DELIVERY CHARGES


Good day!!!

Please, contact THE CONTROLLER OF FEDEX MR.THOMPSON BROWN for your cheque of
$800,000.00 with this email: expressdelivery.fedexcourier@googlemail.com
(Cell Phone : +234 705 500 0827)

Endeavour to provide them with your Security Keeping Code:(Fex/12/47433/PCk)
and also remember to pay their security keeping fee of $150. I have already
paid for the Delivery, Insurance and the Anti-terrorist Clearance.

Finally, you are to provide them with these information so that the can use
it to re-confirm and be sure that you are the right person they are suppose
to deliver the package to:

Claims Requirements


1. Full Name:.....................................
2. Address:.......................................
3. Nationality:...................................
4. Age:.......... Date of Birth:.................
5. Occupation:.....................................
6. Phone:................ Fax:.....................
7. State of Origin:........... Country:...............

Please the payment for the security keeping fees should be made payable to
THOMPSON BROWN Controller Officer Of FedEx through Western Union with these
information belows :

RECEIVER'S NAME: THOMPSON BROWN
CITY/COUNTRY: LAGOS/NIGERIA
TEST QUESTION: WHAT COLOUR
TEST ANSWER: BLUE
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (MTCN):
SENDER'S NAME:
ZIP CODE: 23401
AMOUNT: $150usd
CITY/ STATE WHERE PAYMENT WAS MADE FROM:

Immediately they reveive your delivery information and the payment
informationfor the security keeping fees from you you should been rest
assure thst in the next 48hour your package is already at your door step i
promise you that take my word

My Regards
Mr. Peterson Rick.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam