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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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- expresscompanyg@yahoo.ca (Yahoo, Canada; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: GREEN STAR EXPRESS COMPANY <sexyredval@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: expresscompanyg@yahoo.ca
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 02:45:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED
P {
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WELCOME TO GREEN STAR COMPANY
GOD IS OUR POWER IN DELIVERY.
.....................................................................................................
PACKAGE BOX DELIVERY
NOTIFICATION
Dear
Customer
We have finalized to ship your Consignment deposited on your
favour by your partner Mrs. Deborah Akango, Your Shippment will be on it way to
your country depends on your quickly respond. Be informed that your
re-confirmation information has been confirmed and we are going to carry on your
Shippment tomorrow morning by 11: Am but you have to re-confirm the follow
information to avoid wrong delivery:
Your Full Name:.
Your Home
Add:
Your Telephone#
Be informed that your package
box has acumulated sum of USD$45.00 for SECURITY KEEPING FEE and CHARGES OF
SHIPPMENT IS USD$55 inclusive USD$100.00
So you are advise to meet up
with the demand fee of SECURITY KEEPING FEE and CHARGES OF
SHIPPMENT which your Shippment
Acumulated since it is under our costudy. You are to send the required fee
through Western
Union or Money
Gram with the name and address given
below:
WESTERN UNION
INFO
Receiver Name: Nkechikwulu Raphael .C
Text
Question: Red
Text Answer: Blue
Country: Benin
Republic.
City: Cotonou
MTCN
Number#
Sender's Name:
Be also advised that upon the confirmation of the
SECURITY KEEPING FEE and
CHARGES OF SHIPPMENT, We shall move on with your Shippment and also
forward all the Documents and Tracking Details for you to monitor the movement
of your Consignment until it get to your house. Your direct telephone Number is
needed also to communicate with you immediately our agent gets to your state.
Your Consignment box have good 2 Days to arrive because
we have many countries on list to deliver packages,
Here are the details
to be aware of your consignment box
SHIPMENT
CODE AWB 33XZS,
PACKAGE
REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY
CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
TRANSACTION
CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE
DEPOSIT CODE; SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
We are expecting your speed
respond
YOUR'S FAITHFULLY,
DR.
ETHLE OBIAKO MAXWELL.
DIRCETORS GREEN STAR EXPRESS
SECRURITY COMPANY
BENIN.
TEl: +229
98-465-813
EMAIL: expresscompanyg@yahoo.ca
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Anti-fraud resources:
