|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "million us 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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- +22997846003 (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.
- fedexcourierservicecompanyltd8@gazeta.pl
Fraud email example:
From: "ngozeblessing9 Gazeta.pl" <ngozeblessing9@gazeta.pl>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:34:16 +0200
Subject: CONTACT THE FeDEX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD
My Dear Good Friend,
How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the fee for
your Cheque Draft. And I went to the bank to confirm if the Cheque has
expired or getting near to expire and Mrs Sandra Matthew the Director of
Central Bank of West African States(BCEAO) told me that before the cheque
will get to your hand that it will expire. So I told him to cash the
US$2.5MILLION U.S DOLLARS to cash payment to avoid losting this funds.
However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the US$2.5MILLION US
DOLLARS in cash was made with FEDeX COURIER SERVICES COMPANY LTD. in
Cotonou Benin Republic,
Be inform that the only money you are going to pay is the SECURITY KEEPING
FEE OF $105 dollars only which is the offical keeeping fee of your
consignment.
Telephone Number 00229 97846003
Contact REV.ANTHONY
CONTACT HIM ON this ;fedexcourierservicecompanyltd8@gazeta.pl
recomfirm your information to avoid wrong delivery
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
Regards,
BARR.NGOZI BLESSING
Anti-fraud resources:
