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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- +22993890618 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- globalmax_couriercompany190@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: senatorben4@zipmail.com.br
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:46:18 +0200
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?global=20max=20courier=20company?=
DEAR FRIEND,
SORRY TO HEAR THIS NEWS, THE FAULT IS NOT FROM MY SIDE RATHER YOUR ACTION.I
AM VERY HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUND TRANSFERE
DUNDER THE CO-OPERATION OF MY NEW PARTNER FROM GERMANY AND I WILL NOT FORGET
YOUR PAST EFFORT
TO ASSIST ME TO TRANSFER THOSE FUND DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US SOME HOW.
I DRAFTED A CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT OF ($800.000.00)
DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE YOU AND I GOT INFORMATION FROM ECOBANK DIRECTOR THAT
THE CHEQUE HAS ONE WEEK TO EXPIRE.DUE TO OUR PAST PROBLEM WE ENCOUNTERED,
I INSTRUSTED MY SECRETARY TO
RETURN THE CHEQUE BACK TO THE BANK AND I TOLD THE DIRECTOR MARTHIN DAVE
TO CONVERT THE CHEQUE INTO CASH TO AVOID LOOSING THE MONEY.
ALL THE ARRANGEMENT OF DELIVERING $800.000.00 IN CASH WAS MADE
SUCCEESFUL WITH HALLMARK COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
CONTACT DR.ABDUL AZIZ THE DIRECTOR,AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO DELIVER THE
BOX SINCE THE FUND IS COMING IN CASH.Email(globalmax_couriercompany190@yahoo.fr)
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO DELIVER THE PACKAGE TO YOU.
1.YOUR FULL NAME:-------------------------------
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS:--------------------------
3.YOUR CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER:-----------------------
5.YOUR DATE OF BIRTH:------------------------------------
6.YOUR ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
:------------------------------
7. INCLUDE YOUR BOX REGISTERED NUMBER(00864)
I HAVE PAID FOR THE DELIVERY FEE AND MY SECRETARY STATED THAT THE TRUNK
BOX WAS DEPOSITED AS AFRICAN CLOTHS FOR SECURITY REASONS AND IT IS COVERED
WITH INSURANCE BOND.DONT LET THE COURIER TO KNOW THE REAL CONTENT OF THE
BOX.II'M BUSY HERE WITH MY NEW PARTNER FOR INVESTMENT PROJECT IN GERMANY
THIS IS THE REASON YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE THIS FUND THROUGH COURIER.I JUST
HAVE THIS OPPORSTUNITY TO EMAIL YOU TODAY.DO LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS YOU
RECEIVE THE FUND SO THAT BOTH OF US WILL SHARE JOY TOGETHER.
IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE CONTACT DR.MARTHIN DAVE +22993890618
REGARDS,
ENGR. SENATOR BEN
Anti-fraud resources:
