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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. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- n_courier@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: DR JOHN Chukwu <williansmuba@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: n_courier@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:49:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DELIVERY COMPANY LIMITED
Our diplomatic agent Net courier Company just arrived UNITED STATES San Jose
International Airport california today with your parcell with registration
number ( ADWE456YG )and he is stranded in the airport in california so
please call him 5626842016 now because he needs your reconfirmation address
because he lost your delivery address on transit send to him now.
Your Full Name--------------------
Your Address---- -------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone-------------------
Your pic---------------------------
Be adviced that the delivery fee is going to be paid to the diplomat as soon
as he arrive your door step ( C.O.D )Take note that the only fee you are
going to pay today as soon as you contact him is the security keeping fee of
$195 usd while the delivery fee of $680 usd will be paid to the diplomat (
C.O.D )as soon as he arrived your door step Contact person is MR MACK IBE
Email (n_courier@yahoo.com )
Thanks
DR JOHN Chukwu
MANAGER NET COURIER
DELIVERY COMPANY LIMITED
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Anti-fraud resources:
