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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:
- "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. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- fcouriercompany407@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr. Williams John." <files13@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: "Barr. Williams John." <fcouriercompany407@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:20:29 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: Re:Indicate This Code (011827) To FedEX Express Co!
Attention: Please!
I have been waiting for you since regards your Bank Draft of (US$750.000.00) but I did not hear from you since that time. So I decided to deposite It with FedEX Express Courier Company here to avoid expiry. I suceeded in registering Your Bank Draft with FedEX Express Courier Company Limited. to make sure it will be among of the parcel they will deliver this week or next week and also I paid for Delivery and Insurance Charges for the delivery of your Bank Draft.
Meanwhile the only money you will pay them is their Security Keeping Fee of ($85.00) to receive your Bank Draft. I would have paid it but they refused for some reason, They adviced that the owner should pay for the Security Charges to know the rightfuly owner of the Bank Draft.
What you have to do is to contact them with their information below;
Attn: Mr Frank Ben Okoye.
FedEX Express Courier Company
Benin Republic West Africa,
Tel: +229-9794 8648.
E-mail:(fcouriercompany407@gmail.com)
For your information: I paid all the chargs except their Security Keeping Fee of ($85.00) which they said the beneficiary should pay to ensure them the parcel is going direct to the owner to avoid sending it to wrong person.
Please indicate the registration code (011827) to them when contacting or calling them or calling them at +229-9794 8648.
Thanks for your patience.
Barr. Williams John.
________________________________________
PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet
http://www.peoplepc.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
