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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)
- "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)
- "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. )
- 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.
- +22993237876 (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.
- apex-express-courier@netcourrier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: bjoffice1@freenet.de
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:56:43 +0200
Subject: My Appreciation for Assistance.
Dear Friend,
I packaged a Consignment Trunk Box and registered it in
your name as a Package of Photograpic Films. Therefore contact the
courier company immediately and ask them to send you the Consignment
Package of PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS which I registered in your name.
Contact
Person: Mr. Jorge Lobby (Courier Manager).
Apex Express Courier Company,
Calavi Republic of Benin.
Tel: +229 9323 7876. Fax: +229 2821
3645.
Email: apex-express-courier@netcourrier.com
Then forward the below
information to them for proper and direct delivery:
(1) YOUR FULL
NAME:______
(2) HOME ADDRESS:________
(3)
PHONE:_______________
(4) CELL:________________
(5) AGE:________
(6)
SEX:________
(7) OCUPATION:__________
(8)
COUNTRY:____________
(9) COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION CARD.
Best
regards,
Dr. Benja Olano.
Anti-fraud resources:
