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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. )
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida mzamber waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- infotntexpresscompany@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION <robertwilliams2259@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: infotntexpresscompany@rocketmail.com
Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:18:43 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)
FROM MRS FARIDA MZAMBER WAZIRI (AIG RTD)
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
NIGERIA INVESTIGATION BUREAU
15A AWOLOWO ROAD, IKOYI
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Motto: No Body is Above the LAW
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN,ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
CRIMES COMMISSION(EFCC)
(WE ARE AT YOUR SERVICE)
CABLEGRAM: NAPTCOR
Attn Please:
RE: BE CAREFUL OF THE HOODLUMS
The management of ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL
CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC) wish to remind you once again in regards to your ($3.5 M US )Dollars which was channeled to pay to you through atm inter switch card registered with the TNT shipping company for an immediate delivery to your destination and you should Know that all the necessary charges toward the delivery of your fund to you had been duly settled but remain only $78,00 which you have to send to enable the shipping company carry on the delivery of your fund upon the receipt of the delivery fee today.
Please you should try your best to ensure that you send them the money today so they can release your tracking number immediately before the shipment taken off today.
I will also advice you to re-confirm your address to them as soon as you send the money to avoid the delivery of the parcel into the wrong hands.
As soon as the delivery fee of $78.00 is paid and any other fee arising from any source imposed by the TNT Company please do forward us the letter to this office because our agreement with them is to pay only $78.00 since every other fee had been taken care off. Note: Anything after Monday and there is no response your payment will be confiscated immediately and will be use to compensate other foreign contractors from Germany and no one will be held responsible for not receiving your over due payment,
Take note of that.
Below is the information where to send the money:
Receiver Name: Chiozie Paul
Country: Nigeria
City: Lagos
Question: Help?
Answer: Lord
Sum........$78.00
MTCN Number: ................?
Please contact the Courier Company where your parcel is being registered and forward them the payment details once you send the money with below email.
Contact Person: Mr Larry Joe Henderson
E-mail address ( infotntexpresscompany@rocketmail.com ) Tell +23470605011879
We await your respond.
Thanks for your co-operation
Yours faithfully
CHIEF MARS FARIDA MZAMBER WAZIRI, {Executive Chairman}
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Anti-fraud resources:
