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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. )
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- 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.
- fedexcourierservicecompanyltd@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Williams <diplomatadams@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: fedexcourierservicecompanyltd@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:13:58 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Attn;My Dear
SEND MONEY
WORLDWIDE:
Attn;My Dear
Its my pleasure to inform you that, the inheritance fund has been paid and i have received my share.I loaded the sum of $1.5mUSD in a SWIFT ATM MASTER CARD in your favour as your compensation.I deposited it to FEDEX Contact FEDX to deliver the card to you because i am out of country now for my projet i have at hand.You can reach them with the below information,
Contact person Rev Jim Victor Director FEDEX
EMAIL; fedexcourierservicecompanyltd@yahoo.fr
Tel; +22999984383.
i already paid the delivery charges the only money i did not paid is keeping fee, they refuse to collect the security keeping fee from just because they said they did not know when
you will contact them because the security keeping is $55 every day. The only money you will pay the fedex is the security keeping fee which is $55, Please you have to contact them now to avoid increes the security keeping fee. Contact them now and
Send your full name..................
home address.......................
Pone number......................
ID.................
Find below the secret pin code of the card and keep it confidential to avoid another person seeing it even FEDEX director,its personall to avoid loosing your fund
Bank name...CENTRAL BANK PLC
secret pin code; 8670
Best Regerd
Dr Williams
Director of Eco Bank western union department Republic of
Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
