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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:
- "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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +229930635881 (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "steve ugo" <steveugo5@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 14:35:08 +0100
Subject: Dearest Good Friend
Dearest Good Friend
I have register your Cheque Draft but the manager of EcoBank Bénin told me
that before the cheque will get to you that it will expire.
Then I ask him to cash $2,500.000.00 {TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATE DOLLARS} and a friend of mine who works with with TNT EXPRESS
MAILING COMPANY made all the necessary arrangement of delivering the
$2,500.000.00 in cash as a package trunk box.
This in the information they need for delivery your package to you.
NAME: DR. MINGU OSE
EMAIL: tnt_benin@hotmail.com
PHONE: +229 93 06 35 88
1.YOUR FULL NAME__________________________
2.DELIVERY ADDRESS_________________________________
3.YOUR CELL PHONE___________________
4.OCCUPATION & AGE____________
5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY {if available}
Sincerely
Mr. Steve Ugo
Anti-fraud resources:
