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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- +22993470235 (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.
- expresscouriercompltd@yahoo.de
Fraud email example:
From: collinsiyke@freenet.de
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:58:09 +0200
Subject: CONTACT COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR DRAFT DELIVERY.
Dear Friend.
I have paid the delivery charge of your (£850,000.00) Eight
Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds in a Certified Bank Draft, which my
boss kept for your compensation. Therefore contact Global Courier
Company with your direct phone number and address where you want the
Draft to be delivered to avoid mistake.
Contact the Courier Company on
their contact info:
E-mail: expresscouriercompltd@yahoo.de
Phone Number
: 00229 93 470 235.
Contact person: Rose Mary Onyeomma
To know when your
Package will be deliver to you, and also collect your tracking number
for you to track your package and know when it will arrive to your
place.
Thanks.
Mr Collins Iyke
\"Secretary\" Kadex construction Company
Ltd.
Anti-fraud resources:
