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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- gcouriercompany20@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: BARR CHARLES EZE <cmanigrassi89@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: gcoriercompany@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:05:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT GLOBAL TRUST COMPANY FOR YOUR PACKAGE
P {MARGIN:0px;}UL {MARGIN-TOP:5px;MARGIN-BOTTOM:5px;}OL {MARGIN-TOP:5px;MARGIN-BOTTOM:5px;} (BARR CHARLES EZE & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN
Good day, how are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has expired or getting near to expire and Mr.Ahmed Zaff the Director of Financial Trust Bank told me that before the cheque will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to cash the $850,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losting this funds.However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $850,000.00 USD UNITED STATES DOLLARS in cash was made with GLOBAL TRUST COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic, Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou have to package the sum of $850,000.00 USD in cash for me. Then he also agreed to help me to Register the Consignment with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER COMPANY so now you are to contact them 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 $97.00 Us Dollars to received your package.Don't be deceived by any body This is there Contact Address Contact Dr. JIM NKOH Director Global Trust Company Benin Rep ublic. E-mail;(gcouriercompany20@yahoo.com) Phone number
229-9386-3077.contact them with your full information ok.
Full name......................
Home address.....................
Telphone...............
Age......................
Sex................
Your package registration number ---------EM 8707439
I gave them your delivery address but you have to reconfirm it to them
again to avoid any mistake on the delivery.
________________________________________________________________________
Note. The Global Trust Courier Company don't know the content of the consignment box. I registered it as a Box of an FAMILY VALUABLES. They don't know it contents Money. this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don't let them know what is contains. I am waiting for your urgent response.You can even call the Director of Global Trust Courier Company with this line 229-938-63-077 make sure your Let me know immediately you receive your Consignment. as soon as you receive your consignment Thanks
BARR CHARLES EZE
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