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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. Edwin D. Uba" <sharonjuzwiak@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dhl.groupofcompany73@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:04:56 -0800 (PST)
Subject: ATTENTION:-ATTENTION:-ATTENTION.
ATTENTION:-ATTENTION:-ATTENTION.
DATE: 23/02/2012
My name
is DR. Edwin D. Uba, the new director of (DHL COURIER SERVICE) office Benin republic. I am writing this
mail with deep sorrow as saw your name on the file last weeks as the one of the
most beneficiary which did not receive their fund compensation valued
US$6.5millon which was supposed to been delivery to you, so I later found out
that you have to send the US$185.00 for the security keeping charge of your
Consignment Box before our diplomatic agent carry on the delivery to your home
address fisting Monday morning,
Again your Consignment Box has been under
the Security department for the quite 1 month now which you have to pay US185.00
dollar for it and the security fee must be paid off hear to the security
department before your Consignment Box leave this country to your
destination.
You should Re-confirm your delivery information as listed
bellow; this is to avoid wrong delivery.
Your full name;..............
Home/office Address:............
Telephone Number;.............
Your
nearest
airport;.............
Occupation;..................................
Age/Sex;............................
A
copy of your picture;.....
NOTE!
Now the only money you are demand to
pay is $185.00 which to serve as shipping fee of your issued Consignment Box and
be advised once this fee is received our special diplomatic agent will carry on
your delivery to :- # home address.
SEND THE PAYMENT THROUGH WESTERN
UNION WITH BELLOW INFORMATION
RECIEVER NAME;..........MR, CHIBIKE
OKECHUKWU.
COUNTRY;.................BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY;.........COTONU
TEST QUESTION;.....HOW LONG
ANSWER;......2DAYS
AMOUNT;.....$185.00
MTCN NUMBER;....................... .............................. ?
SENDER'S NAME AND ADDRESS;...................... .........................?
I am waiting to receive your security keeping fee today or tomorrow
because our special diplomatic agent will have to leave this country to your
base fisting Monday
Morning. This Consignment Box will arrive within 2 days
on a transit. So dear you have to act fast today to affect immediate delivery of
your Consignment Box.
DHL COURIER SERVICE
COTONOU /BENIN
REPUBLIC.
BRANCH CODE:T:DHL/114.0711.
TELL:(+229)9879 0663
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (+229)9879 0663
end_of_the_skype_highlighting
DR. EDWIN D. UBA (D.G)
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Anti-fraud resources:
