joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • +22993846214 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: speedtrust companybeninrep <speedtrustcompany_beninrep203@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 11:34:23 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: RE : YOUR EMAIL REQUIRES URGENT AUTHENTICATION


Attn: Klien.

The contents of your mail is noted.

Your consignment was deposited with our company for subsequent delivery to you. And we need you to reconfirm your address were our diplomat will deliver the consignment so as to avoid mix up and also furnish us with a telephone number were the diplomat will reach you immediately he gets to your country.

Furthermore, you will have to pay for the handling fee of $586 for notorisation of the consignment and clearance from the ministry of aviation. This fee will neccessitate a hitch free transfer of the consignment from Benin Republic to your country through our diplomat who is ready to leave once we confirm the receipt of the handling fee. For lack of time, we advise you make this payment through western union money transfer on this name:

Name:ONYEKACHI MOCHAS.
Address: Cotonou, Benin Republic
Mtcn:
Value:
Text Question:Me
Text Answer: You
Senders name:
Address:

On the receipt of the afforementioned fee, the diplomat will leave Benin Rep. for your country. We assure you of safe delivery as we have been in the business for 35 years.

An immediate response will be appreciated so that we can commence with the delivery.

Yours faithfuly,
Dr.Peter Ikolo
Director General
SPEED TRUST COY.
BENIN REPUBLIC
+229 93-846-214



---------------------------------
Découvrez une nouvelle façon d'obtenir des réponses à toutes vos questions ! Profitez des connaissances, des opinions et des expériences des internautes sur Yahoo! Questions/Réponses.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam