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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. )
- "monrovia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "upsfastdelivery@fastservice.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Grace" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <upsfastdelivery@fastservice.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:40:27 +0800
Subject: CONTACT THEM FOR YOUR FUND
Greetings
I waited for you to get in contact with me for your ATM VISA CARD loaded with the sum of $850, 000.00; hence I deposited it with (UPS) UNITED PARCEL SERVICE COURIER, MONROVIA-LIBERIA before I traveled.
Note that I have already paid for the delivery charges and insurance certificate but they did not allow me to pay for the security keeping fee because they don't know when you will contact them. The security keeping fee is $120, which is the only money you will pay to them. Contact the dispatching officer at below information for the dispatching of your ATM MASTER CARD to you without delay..
Contact Dispatching Officer: Mr.David Brooks
E-mail: upsfastdelivery@fastservice.com
Shipment Code: CPOL/OWY/9915
Parcel Number: JP3012-LIB
Kindly Re-confirm you’re below information to Dispatch officer and this code (CPOL/OWY/9915) on your email subject.
Full Names:.............
Address: ..............
Telephone:.............
Occupation:.............
Age: :.............
Sex :.............
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Grace Campbell.
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Anti-fraud resources:
