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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:
- 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:
- "hundred thousand 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 company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Fedex Courier Company" <info@fedex.net>
Reply-To: fedexcourierng64@qatar.io
Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:43:12 +0800
Subject: hello
Dear Valuable Customer,
The Management of FedEx Courier Company {West Africa} wish to inform
that Shell Oil & Gas Co-Operation Company have a deposited a Confirmable
Bank Draft of $500.000.00 Usd (Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) with FedEx Delivery Services from the Office of the senate
president, house of senate has chosen you by the Board of trustees
as one of the final recipients of this new year (2010) promotion and we have
been waiting for you to contact us for Your Package that is registered with
us for shipment by wish you are to pay the Mail, VAT & Shipping fees $85 as
stated in our privacy terms & condition pay before we provide your parcel
tracking number and you are to contact our officer in charge Mr.Johnson
Kelly. via email or call.
Parcel Release Order Form
~Full Name...
~Postal address...
~State/Country...
~Direct telephone number...
~Occupation...
Contact Person: Mr.Johnson Kelly.
Telephone: +234-8032253438
Email Address:fedexcourierng64@qatar.io
FedEx Courier Company {Customer Care Service}
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Anti-fraud resources:
