joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "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 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)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • +22993771892 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22998283043 (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.
  • topchronooffice@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <benardkalu@centrum.cz>
Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:31:36 +0200
Subject: Contact Fredrick Sanchez./package registration No,27.2KGXX5




Attention, my Dear,

I have paid the delivery charge the courier requested for the delivery

of your drafted cheque ($2.5Million USD) my Boss instructed to send it

to you for your compensation. I have been waiting for you since then to

come down here and pick your draft cheque as he said but I did not hear

from you as we fixed. I went to the bank to confirm if the draft still

valid or getting near to expire and the Director of PAYING BANK

Dr.Wilson EcoBank Benin told me that before the draft will get to your

hand that it will expire. So I told him to cash the Two Million five

hundred thousand US Dollars only to cash payment to avoid loosing this

funds under expiration.DR.WILSON, whom converted your draft into cash

advised me to transfer the ($2.5Million USD) to you through DIPLOMATIC

means because Government of this Country will not allow them to

transfer the fund into USA account. That is the reason I deposited the

fund with the TOP CHRONO COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.

For security reasons and to ensure that this fund get to you safe as

the Bank explained, I told the TOP CHRONO DIRECTOR that the TRUNK BOX

content is CLOTHS you order for samples because DR.WILSON covered the

total fund with cloths before he lodged it in Trunk Box. I have PAID

them the delivery charge and they will deliver the Package to your HOME

not in their Branch in the state.
Send your below information, Full Name, Mailing Address and Your

Private Phone Number. And do not let the director to know that the said

package contains money to avoid them not run away with your fund.Below

is your package registration No,27.2KGXX5 and deposited Date,9th Oct

2008.
Now feel free to contact the TOP CHRONO COURIER COMPANY with bellow

information and request for the delivery immediately which was

deposited with them by Secretary.Benard Kalu.

Contact Person: Fredrick Sanchez.
Company Name: Top Chrono Courier Service.
E-Mail Address,(topchronooffice@yahoo.fr )
Telephone number: +229 93-77-18-92

I will not longer stay in this Country Benin, I will move out of this

Country next tomorrow with my family to JAPAN. So Call Dr.Marthins Dave

(EcoBank Accountant Officer, phone, 00229-98-28-30-43) for the key of

the TRUNK BOX because they advised me not to send the key with the same

Courier Company for security reasons. I plead him to send it to you in

any case you need the key before the delivery but you can easily brake

the Box.

God Bless you.
Remain Blessed.
Mr Benard Kalu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam