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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "00,000.00" (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 service" (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.
- 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.
- dandersen@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Cynthia Bowen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <cynbowen@jmail.co.za>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:01:58 +0100
Subject: Important Information ... Please reply
Customers Service Days--Monday to Saturday:
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Attention!
My name is Mrs. Cynthia Bowen of FedEx Courier Services mailing you in respect of your Package (ATM CARD) which after careful scrutiny contains the sum of US$1,200,000.00 (One Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) that the Federal Ministry of Finance and Revenue's Board brought to us with your details to be delivered to you.
Your ATM CARD Package is among the 24 approved payment packages brought to our office for immediate delivery and also with your name as the receiver and we have contacted you severally without response from you for collection.
We write again to remind you of your package which is still with our Regional Dispatch Dept awaiting collection and you are advised to us immediately for collection to avoid having it returned or deposited in our bonded vault as unclaimed deposit as we can no longer continue to keep it here for security reasons.
Please note that your Atm Card package has been in our custody and has accrued a Security Keeping Fee of US$125 (One Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars) only and which should be made directly to our cashier and not through a proxy before delivery.
For clarification and delivery, you are directed to contact the below office immediately and also reconfirm to them your.
1. FULL NAME.
2. DELIVERY ADDRESS.
3. PHONE NUMBER.
Contact directly,
Name: David Andersen
Status: Head Regional Dispatch Dept
Email Address: dandersen@sify.com
Phone Number: +234-709-526-6193
Yours Truly,
Mrs. Cynthia Bowen
FedEx Managing Director
Head Office Annex
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Anti-fraud resources:
