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:

• 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)
  • "clearance certificate" (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. )
  • "million united states dollars" (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. )
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +22993740412 (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.
  • fedexcourierdeliverycompanypb@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "charleseze@emsergipe.com" <charleseze@emsergipe.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:41:17 -0300
Subject: CONTACT THE FEDEX COURIER COMPANY,

Dear Friend, Greetings!I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank= Draf of $2.500.000.00=20Million United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that tim=e. Then I went and deposited the Draft=20with FEDEX COURIER COMPANY, Cotonou, Benin Republic before I travelled ou=t of the country for a 3 Months=20Course What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY as= soon as possible to know when=20they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date. For y=our information, I have paid for=20the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of= the Cheque showing thatit is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Count=ry.The only money you will send to the Courier & Security Company to delive =your Draft direct to your postal=20Address in your country is ($150.00 US)one hundred Fifty United States Do=llars only being Security Keeping Fee=20of the Courier Company sofar. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay =any other money except$150.00 US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they =don't knowwhen you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to contact =the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY now for=20the delivery of your Draft with this information bellow; Contact Person:T=ONY MORIS Email=20Address:(fedexcourierdeliverycompanypb@yahoo.fr)Phone:+229-9374-0412 Finally, make sure that you reconfirm the following infomation to them a=gain to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you thetracking number to enable you track your package over there and know when= itwill get to your address.The infomations are;1.YOUR FULL NAME;2.YOUR AGE;3.HOUSE/OFFICE ADDRESS4.HOUSE / OFFICE PHONE NOS5.A COPY OF YOUR PICT FOR IDDENTIFICATIONLet me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail= toavoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping f=ee of$150.00 US Dollars for their immediate action.Do let know immediately yourecieves your package.Yours Faithfully,Dr,OBIORA BENSON.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam