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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:
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
- officeups@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UPS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officeups@superposta.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:55:52 -0700
Subject: TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
Attn Dear Customer,
Response
Thank you for forwarding this information to us. The e-mail you received is not a legitimate UPS communication. We are aware that individuals may inappropriately use the UPS name or its services to perpetuate fraudulent activities. We appreciate you alerting us to this latest incident. Although, we have carry out an investigation about your shipment and discovered that your ATM CARD parcel still in our branch office in Africa.
Now, the only way you can help yourself and receive your parcel with out dealing with those Frauds in Africa is to contact our UPS office in Lagos Nigeria. Email officeups@superposta.com
((1) SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
(2) REGISTERED TAG FCSCB77415.
(3) SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
(4) TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
(5) CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
(6) UPS SHIPPING FEE $78.
PERSON IN CHARGE
MR. ROBERT WILLIAMS.
TEL +234 8165971780
Note, we have contacted you so many times about your shipment and this time you have to claim your package otherwise the shipping will be cancel.
While UPS is not liable for the actions of third parties, we are working to prevent and detect fraud where possible.
Thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention.
UPS Corporate Compliance & Ethics
Fraud Report Management.
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Anti-fraud resources:
