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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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "glbalcorurier1@w.cn" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Johnson Mark." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <glbalcorurier1@w.cn>
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:08:30 +0100
Subject: MAKE CONTACT FOR YOUR COMPENSATION!
Hello Dear
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft but
did not hear from you since that time ,Then I went and deposited the Draft OF
$800,000 with Global Courier Service Company here in Benin Republic,because I
travelled to Iraq for health reasons and will not comen back till next month
end. You have to contact the Global Courier Service Company to know when they
will deliver your package. I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance
fee. The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which
is $116 Us Dollars to received your package.Don't be deceived by any body This
is there Contact person:
Contact Dr. Laurent Guen
E-MAIL: glbalcorurier1@w.cn
Phone:+22996342832
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping
fee.I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them
again to avoid any mistake in the delivering. Let me know as soon as you receive
your Draft .
Thanks
Mr. Johnson Mark.
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Anti-fraud resources:
