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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "asianpacific101@hotmail.my" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:36:33 -0500
Subject: Winning Notification Alert From The Common Wealth Of Nations"
The Common Wealth Of Nations
P.O Box 789
Harrogate HG1 2YR
Ref: CMNL/04760X2/45
Batch: 8731/069/BRK369
Our Dear Winner,
You have won the sum of$3,000,000.00 (Three Million,United States Dollars)
from Commonwealth Lottery on our 2011 end of year charity bonanza.The
winning ticket was selected from a Data Base of Internet E-mail Users,from
which your Address came out as the winning coupon.We hereby urge you to
claim the winning amount quickly as this is a monthly lottery. Failure to
claim your win will result into the reversion of the fund to our following
month.You are therefore requested to contact immediately our Claims
Department below quoting winning number: LOTTERY
NUMBER:05-08-10-18-20-46-{43}.
You are to contact our AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY for delivery of your
winning certificate and winning cheque of $ 3 million USD
CONTACT COURIER WITH THE BELOW EMAIL LINK.
Asia Pacific Couriers
Mr. Kenny Kim
Tell:+60146415896
EMAIL:asianpacific101@hotmail.my
FILL THE INFORMATION BELOW
Name_____
Age______
Sex____
Status____
Tel/Fax____
Address___
Occupation_______
Congratulations once again. please quote your lottery number.
Regards,
MRS. KATE PETER
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