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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "certified bank draft" (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.
- 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.
- fedexcompany41@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Multi-National Oil Company" <xmasgrant1@mchsi.com>
Reply-To: fedexcompany41@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:00:55 +0000
Subject: Notifications
Sir/Madam
We the management and staff of Multi-National Oil=C2=A0
Company have your email address as a winner in=C2=A0
our end of year email ballotting promotion and=C2=A0
have deposited a certified Bank draft of=C2=A0
$90,000.00 United States Dollars with the FedEx=C2=A0
Courier Company for collection=C2=A0
Send the following details highlighted below for=C2=A0
reconfirmation:=C2=A0
FULL NAMES:=C2=A0
TELEPHONE:=C2=A0
POSTAL ADDRESS:
NATIONALITY:
The above informations should be sent to:=C2=A0
Name: Mr.Jimmy Bones=C2=A0
Status: Fedex Dispatch Director=C2=A0
Email Address: fedexcompany41@gmail.com =C2=A0
Phone Number: +234 (703)324-5475=C2=A0
NOTE: The only charges you will send to the=C2=A0
FEDEX COURIER COMPANY to deliver your Draft=C2=A0
direct to your postal Address in your country is=C2=A0
($175)Dollars only being payment for Security=C2=A0
Keeping Fee of the Courier Company.=C2=A0
Yours Faithfully,=C2=A0
Mrs. Rebecca S Neeley =C2=A0
Anti-fraud resources:
