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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 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.
- 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.
- +22997550863 (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.
- gspcouriercompany1@netcourrier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: johnmark01@freenet.de
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:27:43 +0200
Subject: Contact (GSP) For Your Packages
Attention My Dear,
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque
Draft.but the manager of Eco Bank Benin told me that before the check
will get to you that it will expire.So i told him to cash $850.000.00 in
cash however all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$850.000.00 in cash was made with GSP COURIER COMPANY PLC.
Be inform
that there are some documents to be secured.The only fee you have to
send to them is $145.00 usd which will serve as the insurance fee and
claims of affadvite to enable them deliver the parcel to you
immediately.
Do contact them and let me know when you have receieve
your fund, below is the needed information to enable them deliver your
fund to you immediately.
GSP COURIER COMPANY PLC
DIRECTOR Dr. FRANK
GOMEZ
Telephone==229 -93859941/ fax
+22997550863
EMAIL===(gspcouriercompany1@netcourrier.com)
Your Full
Name-----------------------------
Your
Address---------------------------
Home
telephone---------------------
Office
telephone---------------------
update them with your nearest
international and local airport------
Your company registration number
---------EM5507439
Code
number---------------------------------48SEIO41
Do let me know
immediately you receive your consignment that consist your fund that i
deposited in the GSP courier company PLC .so that we can share the joy
together
Best Regards
Barrister John Mark
Anti-fraud resources:
