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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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.
  
• 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.
  • +2299 (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.
  • fcompany.benin@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:08:44 +0100
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX OFFICE FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX






=C2=A0Attn My Dear Friend,
=C2=A0
I have paid the=C2=A0 fee for your cheque draft and i took it to the FINA=
NCIAL BANK PLC to confirm it then the Manager of the Bank MR BENARD UGO t=
old me that before the check can get to you it will expire on the way and=
if it expired it will become useless so He advice me to convert $1.5m (O=
NE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) into cash and pack it into the =
strong iron box=C2=A0 and deposit it in FEDEX EXPRESS DELIVERY COMPANY BE=
NIN REPUBLIC to deliver it in cash to you.and i did it as he advice me be=
cause he is a banker he knows the durability of any foriegn check or draf=
t.
=C2=A0
I=C2=A0 deposited the said package in the FedEX EXpress Delivey Company a=
s an cotton materials for secuirty reasons.This is the registration Numbe=
r of your Package=C2=A0 Fed/122p/mtm/2007=C2=A0 Zip Code;0113388 so do no=
t let the company to know the real contents of the package so that they c=
an deliver it for you safely.I want you to contact the company immediatel=
y with the following informations though i give them your information but=
you need to reconfirm it for them.Below is the required infomation you n=
eed to give them now,=20
=C2=A0
1.YOUR FULL NAME AND HOME ADDRESS
2.YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
3.A COPY OF YOUR PHOTO
4.YOUR AGE AND MARITAL STATUS
=C2=A0
All these things is needed from you now to submmit to the company for urg=
ent delivery of your package contains $1.5m Please contact the delivery c=
ompany immediately and reconfirm your info to them to enable their agent =
locate=C2=A0 you when he arrived in your country.This is=C2=A0 the compan=
y contact info.Email; (fcompany.benin@rocketmail.com)=20
DR.DAVID TANKO Director General=20
=C2=A0FEDEX EXpress Delivery Company Benin Republic.
Tel;+229 9oo 86 340
Please contact=C2=A0 the company immediately you receive this email so th=
at your package=C2=A0 will leave tonight to be deliver to you.
=C2=A0
Get back to me as soon as you receive your package from the company.=20
=C2=A0
Regards
=C2=A0
MRMIKE OBI Esq.
=C2=A0

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam