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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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 Delivery Company" <fedexdelivery_service16@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: fedexnig_deliveryservice@live.com
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 06:18:54 +0300 (EAT)
Subject: YOU HAVE A PACKAGE FROM FedEx!!
====================FedEx Delivery===================
Greetings From Fedex,
Date: 5/04/2010.
This is to inform you that there is a package in this office deposited
by one Rev. Muktar Scott on the 5th April 2010. Your email address
was attached to it and is to be delivered to you. I have been waiting for
you to contact me for your confirmable package which contain a Bank Draft
of 950,000.00 USD and some vital Documents.
Kindly contact our branch office
FedEx Courier West Africa
Delivery Office.
Name: Mr.David Brooks
Emailfedexnig_deliveryservice@live.com
Tell: +2348134631928
You are required to provide him with the following information:
FULL NAME:
COUNTRY:
COMPLETE ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
TEL:
E-MAIL:
AGE:
MARITAL STATUS:
NOTE: Every claim has an expiry period of Fourteen working days.
Regards,
Barr.Brian Lucas.
FedEx Notification Dept
====================FedEx Delivery===================
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Anti-fraud resources:
