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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:
- "million united states 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 service" (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.
- 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.
- achillesscourier3@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- 3aachillesscourier3@gmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:39:56 +0000
Subject: HELLO
Good Day To You Dear
I have paid the delivery fees for your BANK CHEQUE/DRAFT and all the
necessary arrangement has made WITH Achilles's Security And Courier Services
and GOVERNOR BANK OF GHANA told me that the BANK CHEQUE will expire before
getting to you, so i told him to cash the 3.7 Million United States Dollars
and deposited the fund with Achilles's Security and Courier Service.
Now Contact Achilles's Security and Courier Service with this information,s
Contact Person:Mr.Peter,s Koffi
E-mail:achillesscourier3@gmail.com <E-mail%3Aachillesscourier3@gmail.com>.
So you are to pay security keeping fee of $99 USD to the Company and also
send your NAME,ADDRESS,PHONE to them and remember that Achilles's Security
And Courier Services did not know the content of the box because i
registered it as African Art Material.
REGARDS.
Anti-fraud resources:
