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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:
- "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. )
- "united state of america" (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.
- 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.
- sfedex@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: FedEx <tegueu2002@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: sfedex@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:06:43 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATM package now with this Tracking number: 875531681014
Attention: Beneficiary,
I am wondering why you haven't respond
back to us after the FedEx service has arrive United State of America
with your ATM package, You have to track your ATM package now with this
Tracking number: 875531681014 to view your package.
WWW.FedEx.com
Tracking No:875531681014
Also the FedEx service have a problem
with the custom with your package because they find out that what is
inside was ATM card so they hold on it requesting that they will show
them Homeland Security document policy before they will release the
package to them so the cost of the document is US$95.00 dollars.
Payment details as follows.
RECEIVER NAME:::::::::::::: NWEKWU MIRACLE
COUNTRY::::::::::::::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY :::::::::::::::::::COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:::::::::::::FAST
TEXT ANSWER::::::::::::::::::FAST
AMOUNT:::::::::::::::::::::$95USD
MTCN:::::::::::::::::::::::?
SENDDER::::::::::::::::::::::?
Treat this mail as urgent to enable you have your package in next 4 hours today.
THANK YOU
MR JAMES ANDRE CALL ME AT +229-98123964 E-mail address (sfedex@yahoo.fr)
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