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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:
- "activation 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 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.
- globalmax_couriercompany170@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.TONY JOHNSON" <bosutt@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: globalmax_couriercompany170@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:12:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR ATM MASTER CARD CONTACT DR.DEVIS
YOUR ATM MASTER CARD CONTACT DR.DEVIS
Attention Please,
We have Paid the Global Max Courier Company the delivery fee for the delivery of your fund ($2.5million) which has been credited in an ATM MASTER CARD for easy and safe delivery.But the manager of Central Bank Of West African States Benin Republic told me that the ATM CARD will be re-activated before sending it to you so that you will be able to withdraw the whole $2.5million.before it will expire.So i told director of Global Max Courier company to please help in re-activating the card before delivering it to you, So the only fee you will pay him is re-activation charges to enable him re-activate the card before sending it to you to avoid expiry. Below is the needed information to enable them re-activate and deliver your ATM MASTER CARD to you immediately.Note: the only fee you have to pay them is re-activation fee that they will use in re-activating the CARD and also indicate this code (SC0081) when writen or calling he director, because it will
prove that you are the owner of the ATM MASTER CARD.
GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY REPUBLIC OF BENIN
DR. WILLIE DEVIS (DIRECTOR)
EMAIL:(globalmax_couriercompany170@yahoo.fr)
Telephone: +229-98-31-05-82
SEND THE BELOW INFORMATION TO THE GLOBAL COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR ON THE ABOVE INFORMATION:
1.YOUR FULL NAME:
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:
4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE:
5.NATIONALITY:
Do let me know immediately you receive your ATM MASTER CARD so that we can
share the joy togerther please do not forget to indicate this code(SC0081)
to him ok.
BEST REGARD
TONY JOHNSON
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Anti-fraud resources:
