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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.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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)
- 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.
- homelandcouriercompany35@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Mark Philip" <sueking1@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: homelandcouriercompany35@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:31:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT HOMELAND COURIER COMPANY FOR THE CONSIGNMENT
Greetings,
This is to inform you that the board member of the Bank has arranged your fund in a consignment box concidering your inability to receive the money through bank wire transfer for one reason and other. The box has been deposited to Homeland Courier Company not less than 4 hours ego today. This kind of transfer mean that you will receive your fund through diplomatic means at your door step in your country by the Homeland Courier diplomat agent.. Solid arrangement has been made to ensure safe delivery of the consignment box to your destination address immediately you contact the company.
Now Contact Mr. Mark Philip at Homeland Courier Company for delivery instruction to your door step:
Address: No 133 dodomey avenue,marina Cotonou Benin Republic
Email:homelandcouriercompany35@yahoo.fr
Tel: 00229 9 726 1389
Be informed that the total sum of (us$11.7million) is completely arranged in the consignment box with out any deduction,therefore go ahead to coorprate with the courier company for immediate delivery of the consignment to your door step. While in contact with the courier company confirm your personal information as stated below.
1.YOUR FULL NAME AND DESTINATION ADDRESS:
2.THE POSTAL CODE OF YOUR COUNTRY/STATE
3.YOUR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER AND HOUSE PHONE NUMBER:
4.YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION:
Above information is necessary to process the delivery. Thanks while waiting for your urgent attention. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please be informed that we did not reveal the real content of the box to the Courier Company. This is to protect the huge amount of money inside the consignment. We told them that it was Film Matrials inside the consignment so don't let them know the real content is money.
Yours Faithfully
Barr. David King
Foreign Remittance Director
Financial Bank Head Office
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Anti-fraud resources:
