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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- "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.
- +447031748642 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- delieveryman_ems@deliveryman.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: EMS Delievery Man Delievery Code 2787 <delieveryman.ems@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:58:58 +0100
Subject: EMS Global Forwarding Services
EMS Global Forwarding Services
Delivery Services, London, UK Office
Email: delieveryman_ems@deliveryman.com
Dear customer!
The EMS courier company will deliver to you your Parcel/Consignment Cause:
Error in Delivery NR.624373F2787, You may pickup the parcel at our cargo
section in any of our office worldwide personally!
Please re-confirm the under listed details for our agent, or Please call
our agent on +447031748642.
Current phone number for contact.
Thank you for attention.
Delivery Manager Michael Cambridge
EMS Global Forwarding Services.
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Anti-fraud resources:
