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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:
- "insurance 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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +22997939879 (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.
- fedexservice_companyplc02@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: benndu20@zipmail.com.br
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:56:09 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=28CONTACT=20FEDEX=20COMPANY=20FOR=20YOUR=20PACKAGE=20URGENTLY=29?=
Attention,
I have been expecting you to come down here and pick your internationalcertified
Bank draft of $800.000.00 USD (Eight hundred thousand unitedstates Dollars)
from my client but did not hear from you since thattime,
I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft.Because the manager of Eko Bank
Benin told me that before the check will get to you
that it will expire.So i told him to cash $800.000.00usd dollars infact
i thanks god for that now all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
( $800.000.00 usa dollars.) in cash was made with fedex SERVICE company
PLC BENIN REPUBLIC.
Your have to contact the Fedex Courier Service Company to know whenyour
package will deliver to your Door step. But you have to pay them only (
$95 usd) which will serve as the insurance fee and claims of affirdavite
to enable them deliver the parcel to you immediately. i would had pay that
but they said no because to contact you may take times in case of dumorage.
I have concluded the instruction from the company director. Contact the
Director General DIRECTOR :Dr ROBERT PAUL. to know when they will deliver
the package foryour and also to give you the tracking number. to know when
it will arrive to your home address.
Contact the Courier company with this informations,
DIRECTOR :Dr ROBERT PAUL.
ADDRESS :FEDEX SERVICE COMPANY PLC BENIN REPUBLIC.
WANLIDA HOUSE BUILDING
20 DEGBAGO CRESCENT,COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
(EMAIL:fedexservice_companyplc02@yahoo.fr)
PHONE CONTACT: +22997939879
PHONE NUMBER +22993698215
Send the following informations to them for proper identification and easy
delivery.be advise not to let them know that the package contains money
to avoid them delay your package.
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
6.YOUR COUNTRY
7.YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT
Let me know as soon as you receive your Draft as my client is greatly concerned.
Have a Nice Day.
Sincerely,
Barrister KENNETH HENRY ,
Anti-fraud resources:
