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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- onlilneteamdelivery@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "IBRAHIM LAMORDE" <efccgroup43@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: onlilneteamdelivery@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2014 00:23:25 +0900
Subject: CONTACT (US FIRST ATLANTIC COURIER)
This is instructions by our new President Good Luck Jonathan to delivery
your unclaimed fund to you by CHEAQUE and it will come through
(US FIRST ATLANTIC COURIER) if you are still talking with any one about
your unclaimed fund you are advised to stop right now because your fund
has being issued by CHEAQUE and its deposited with (US FIRST ATLANTIC
COURIER) Company Ltd now.
You are advice to send only (US FIRST ATLANTIC COURIER) delivery charges
is $185 we will send out your parcel and email you the tracking number.
I want you to send the delivery charges today through Western union or
Money Gram to this information below and once its received your CHEAQUE
will be sent out and the tracking number will be given to you for picking
up your package.
Send delivery charges amount $185 to this name and address below and you
are rest assured to receive your CHEAQUE successfully like every other
people.
Receivers name----- IKEM KEN.
Country--------------Benin Republic
City-------------- Cotonou
Text Question ------WHEN
Text Answer -------2014
Be inform that if you send your delivery charges today you will receive
your tracking number in less than 45 minutes.
Your amount in the CHEAQUE is US$10.5Million and the Register code of your
CHEAQUE is: {DCJKT00678G} Try and send them the
$185 to enable them proceed with your delivery. EMAIL
(onlilneteamdelivery@gmail.com) Phone number: (+229 66-504-891) Name:
Michael Burton
I want you to reconfirm your delivery details once you send the $185
Thanks and God bless you
Ibrahim Lamorde
The E.F.C.C Chairman
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Anti-fraud resources:
