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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- umecse@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: IRENE MARUS <danbard00111@gmail.com>
Reply-To: umecse@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 09:53:22 +0000
Subject: Contact UME Courier Service for your fund
Good day,I am writing to inform you that the International monetary fund
and Ministry of Finance Benin Republic, have concluded to send your Fund
$2.5Million United state Dollar to you though Courier Service..
And all the necessary arrangement of delivering your fund $2.5Million us
dollar in cash was made with UME COURIER SERVICE. Contact UME COURIER
SERVICE and send your full home address to them to deliver your fund to
you..
Company name...... UME COURIER SERVICE
Contact person:...(KANE MARK)
Email ........( umecse@gmail.com )
telephone... +229 68225182
Send your contact information to them as it below to enable them deliver
your fund to you direct.
YOUR FULL NAME
HOME ADDRESS.
YOUR COUNTRY
CITY AND ZIP CODE
TELEPHONE NUMBER.
Do let me know immediately you receive your fund from courier service so
that we can share the joy together.
BEST REGARDS,
MRS. IRENE MARUS
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Anti-fraud resources:
