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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:
- "registration 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)
- "million united state 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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "courierdeliveringcompanies@yahoo.in" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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: Mr Lawson Williams <angelapereira@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: wmrlawson@yahoo.in
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 10:34:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT REV.FRANK PETER FOR MORE CLEARIFICATION.
Attention, Please.
Good day. How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the registration fee for your CHECK which has been with me for a long time. And I went to the bank to confirm if the CHECK has be expired or getting near to expire and Mrs. Justina Yayi the Director Bank of Africa told me that before the CHECK will get to your hand that it will expire.
So I told him to cash the $10.2million united state dollars to cash payment to avoid losing this funds under expiration. However, all the necessary arrangement for delivering the $10.2million united state dollarsS in cash was made with COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY here in BENIN REPUBLIC COTONOU, Mrs.Justina Yayi the Director of Bank of Africa BENIN REPUBLIC has package the sum of $10.2million USD in cash for you.Then he also help me to Register the Consignment with COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY Infact I thank God very much for all the movement I made, every thing went normally.
As for our agreement with the COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY they promised that your consignment will leave this Country on or before 3days from now, But the Director of the COURIER DELIVERING COMPANY said that they need your contacts information's to enable them meet up with you immediately the Diplomant Agents
CONTACT: REV.FRANK PETER
Email: (courierdeliveringcompanies@yahoo.in )
Please Send them your contacts information to enable them locate immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX This is what they need from you.
1.YOUR FULL NAME....................
2.YOUR COUNTRY..........................
3.YOUR HOME DELIVERY ADDRESS.........................
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER........................
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE...................
6.YOUR CURRENT CELL PHONE..............................
7.YOUR NERAEST INTERANTIONAL AIRPORT..................
8.YOUR COMPANY NAME.................................
9. A COPY OF YOUR ID/ PICTURE....................
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general of COURIER EXPRESS DELIVERING COMPANY REV.PETER JOHNSON with the address given to you.
I am waiting for your urgent response. You can even call the Director of COURIER EXPRESS DELIVERING COMPANY
with this line:Tel +229 93694372
Below is the Deposit details:
Deposit Number: PLCC-101-PL45
Sort/Clearance Code: PLC/101-45/P50
Deposit Certificate N0.: 405576
Consignment Description: 10.2million USD
Depositor: Barrister.George Folden
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
REGARDS
BAR LAWSON WILLIAMS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
