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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic delivery"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (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 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.
  • zenithcourieruk01@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <urgentmatters1000@centrum.cz>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:17:22 +0100
Subject: Attn: My Dear,


=C2=A0

Attn: My Dear,
=20
=20

I have paid the fee for delivery of your Cheque Draft but the manager of =
Diamond Bank Benin told me that before the Check will get to you that it =
will expire so I told him to change $850,000.00 in cash payment and all t=
he necessary arrangement of delivering the $850,000.00 in cash was made w=
ith Z=E2=80=99DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE COMPANY.=20

This is the information of the contact person of Diplomatic Courier Compa=
ny.
=C2=A0
Name:=C2=A0 FREDRICK MANTU

EMAIL:=C2=A0 zenithcourieruk01@hotmail.fr

=C2=A0

Please, Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you=C2=A0=
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX.

=C2=A0

This is what they need from you; you have to reconfirm your delivery info=
rmation to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering.


Reconfirm below information to the company.
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone (if any)---------------------
=20
Let me know immediately you receive your package and check the contents =
whether the complete of the total $850,000.00.
=C2=A0
Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director General of=C2=
=A0Z=E2=80=99Diplomatic Delivery=C2=A0Company=C2=A0Service, =E2=80=9CFRED=
RICK MANTU=E2=80=9D with the address given to you.

=C2=A0

Note that I=C2=A0registered it as Box of African Act facts, the diplomat =
Agent don't know that it contains money, this is to avoid them delaying w=
ith the Box, don't let the Diplomat Agent know that it is money that is i=
n that Box.=20

=C2=A0

I am waiting for your urgent=C2=A0response.=C2=A0=20
=C2=A0
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
=C2=A0
Pat Urban

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam