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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- globalmaxcouriercompany1110@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY <asiya.amed@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: globalmaxcouriercompany1110@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:30:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Your payment; ref; numbers 000999/CBN/7535/2009/10.Urgent
AIR FREIGHT*OCEAN CARGO*
*CARGO MOVEMENT *REPACKAGING*
GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY
Federal republic of Nigeria
Phone Number +234 7040908199
Your payment; ref; numbers 000999/CBN/7535/2009/10.Urgent
Attn: Honorable contractor,
Did you authorized a lady named Mrs. Joan C. Bailey from OHIO United States of America to receive your part payment sum of usd$3.7m on your behalf? she has already contacted us and also presented all the necessary documentations evidencing your claim purported to have been signed personally by you prior to the release of your part-payment of $3.7million usd only. Because at the Natrionl Courier Office we are about contacting you for your delivery arrangements before we got this fellow who claimed to be your agent presenting documents of claim.
Reconfirm back to me to avoid any irregularities as your payment is now ready to be delivered to you by diplomatic means (based on the Instructions received this morning from the attorney general of the federation). I want you to know that you will be responsible for the delivery of your draft to your destination. Our charges are affordable which is the total sum of $320 usd. And the details of what you are paying for are as follows:
Stamp and Duty charges : $100 usd
handing charges : $150 usd
Delivery and Shipping charges : $70 uds
Total Amount : $320 usd
Based on that, you have been advised not to respond to any mail or fax concerning your fund from any body who claim to be or your agent as your certify international bank draft valued at usd$3.7m is now ready to be delivered immediately by the authority of this office.
Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:
1) Your full name.
2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Home Address.
You are warned and advised to follow-up instructions as regards to your Fund.The above is your payment (ref. Number(000999/CBN/7535/2008/9) any mail orbfaxes with out your payment ref numbers, you should disregard it.
Your urgent response is expected in this onfidential/private via email address: (globalmaxcouriercompany1110@gmail.com) for security reasons, and dont fail to reply or else this fund will be released to the agent/partner/claimer.
Yours faithfully.
Rev Samuel Eke
Executive Director,
GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY
Federal republic of Nigeria
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