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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "james.dickson002@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Mrs Lara Schillings" <mrslaras@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: james.dickson002@live.com
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:47:19 +0300
Subject: CONTACT THE UPS AGENT
Dear Friend!
I am sorry for the delay in contacting you for your Confirmable Bank Draft of
$400.000.00 United States Dollars as it was because I did not get any reply
from you. The Company Director authorised me to displace your Bank Draft to
you from my desk before i went on the company study leave.Then I went and
deposited the Draft with UNITED PARCEL COURIER SERVICE,WEST AFRICA, I have
travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back
till end of may. You have to contact the UPS COURIER SERVICE now for the
delivery of your Draft with this information below to avoid demurrage:
The only money you will send to the UPS COURIER to deliver your Draft direct
to your postal Address in your country is ($180.00) US Dollars only being
Safe Keeping fee of the Courier Company so far.
Contact Person: Dr.James Dickson
Email Address: james.dickson002@live.com
Telephone: +2347067167381
+2348055860079
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your POSTAL ADDRESS and DIRECT PHONE
NUMBER to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to
give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over there and
know when it will get to your address. Let me repeat again, try to contact
them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay
and remember to pay them their Safe Keeping fee of $180.00 US Dollars for
their immediate action.
You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Bank
Draft.
God Bless You.
Mrs Lara Schillings
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Anti-fraud resources:
