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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)
- "million 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)
- "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)
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- +22993428467 (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.
- fileoffice91@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- globalcourrier_company2006@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: globalcourrier_company2006@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:32:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GLOBAL SPEED Courier Company Limited For Yor Package
I have a new email address!You can now email me at: fileoffice91@yahoo.com
- Attn:Dear Good Friend, How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have CASH your Bank Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Dr Johnson Udo the Director of ROYAL TRUST BANK told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire.So I told him to cash the USD$1,200,000.00 MILLION DOLLARS ( $1,200,000.00 United States Dollars) to cash payment to avoid losting this funds.However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the USD$1,200,000.00 MILLION DOLLARS in cash was made with GLOBAL MAX COURIER SERVICE COMPANY. Here In Cotonou Benin Republic.CONTACT PERSON;DR.FRANK DON DISTRICT MANAGER GLOBAL SPEED Courier Company Limited BENIN REPUBLIC. E-mail globalcourrier_company2006@yahoo.fr : OFFICE PHONE+229-93 42 84 67 Reconfirm below information to the companynow.YourFullName...................YourAddress................................... Home telephone........................Office telephone..........................Yourpic.................................. Incase i have paid for the delivering charges of the consignment box that contain your 1.200.000.00 million usd The only money you have to send to them is the stamp fee $120 Us Dollarsto receive your consignment box is the only money you can pay to receive the consignmen. Let me know as soon as you receive your consignment Box.Use this code (GS008 )As your subject when contacting the company to enable them identify you as the owner of the consignment i registered with them. again dont let them know that money is in the consignment box.Thanks and remain in bless Regard Barr. usman david
Anti-fraud resources:
