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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:

Fraud email example:

From: Office File <offfiles@belleasts.net>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:37:04 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT ZENITH COURIER FOR YOUR PACKAGE


CONTACT ZENITH COURIER FOR YOUR PACKAGE
 
Attn: My Dear,
 
I have paid the fee for your Check Draft. Because the manager of Eko Bank Benin
told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire. So I told him
to cash $1.67 Million USD, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$1.67 Million USD in cash was made with DIPLOMATIC COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY SERVICE.
 This is the information of the contact person of Diplomatic Courier Company.
 
Name:  FREDRICK MARK
EMAIL:  urgentmatters546@safe-mail.net
 
Please, Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they need
from you, you have to reconfirm delivery information to them again to avoid any
mistake on the delivering.
 
Reconfirm below information to the company.
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone (if any)---------------------
 
Let me know immediately you receive your package and check the contents whether
the complete of the total $1.67 Million USD
 
Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director General of
Diplomatic Courier Delivery Company Service, “FREDRICK MARK” with the
address given to you.
 
Note that I registered it as Box of Artifacts. The diplomat Agent
don't know that it contains money, this is to avoid them delaying with the
Box, don't let the Diplomat Agent know that it is money that is in that Box.
 
I am waiting for your urgent response. 
 
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
 
Pat Urban

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