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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:
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- +229 (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.
- globaltrustcompanybeninrepx1221@yahoo.fr
- nom.nom@laposte.net
Fraud email example:
From: "eze.oke" <eze.oke@laposte.net>
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:21:08 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Contact global trust company for your funds.
Dear
I have registered your Cheque Draft.because the manager of First National Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to cash $1.5 Million USDollars and all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.5 Million in cash was made with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER COMPANY. Please write a letter of application to the given address below,
DR. BENJAMIN SHARGAN
Phone +229/9392/67/24
EMAIL: globaltrustcompanybeninrepx1221@yahoo.fr
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOx.This is what they need from you to delivery your package to you.
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 AGE..................
7.YOUR COUNTRY..............
THEY DON'T KNOW IT CONTENTS MONEY. THIS IS TO AVOID THEM DELAYING WITH THE BOX.REMEMBER THAT I HAVE PAID ALL THE REQUIRED FEE EXCEPT THE SECURTY KEEPING FEE OF 150 DOLLARS WHICH THEY INSISTED THAT I WILL NOT PAY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN YOU WILL CONTACT THEM.PLEASE DONT BE CONFUSED BY ANY PERSON TO SEND ANY OTHER FEE EXCEPT THE 150 DOLLARS.
Thanks and may God bless you abondantly.
DR.Eze Williams
Créez votre adresse électronique prénom.nom@laposte.net
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