|
|
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:
- 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:
- "certificate 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- ",000,000" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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. )
- 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.
- +2348050743558 (Nigeria, 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.
- contactups01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UPS COURIER COMPANY" <info@upscourier.com>
Reply-To: <contactups01@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 22:18:44 -0600
Subject:
UPS COURIER COMPANY
12 Air Port Road,G.R.A.
West Africa,
Good Day.I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your
Confirmable
Bank Draft of $1,000,000,00 USD (One Million United Statest Dollars),but I
did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft
with Ups Courier Express ,West Africa,I travelled out of the country for a 3
Months Course and I will not come back
till end of march.
I want you to try all your best and contact the UPS COURIER SERVICE as soon
as possible to know when you will get this package because of the expiring
date.For your information,I have paid for the Security Keeping Fee,
Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that
it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attacking your Country.
The only money you will send to the Ups Courier Express to deliver your
Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is $200 Us Dollars only
being Delivering Charge Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again,don't be
deceived by any person to pay any other money except $200 Us Dollars being
the Delivering Charge .I would have paid that but they said no because they
don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You have to
contact the UPS COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your Draft with this
below information.
===========================================
Contact Person: Mr. Charles B. Anderson
Email Address:contactups01@gmail.com
Telephone: +234-8050743558
===========================================
Lastly, You are advice to send the below information to the Courier
Company:Your Full Name:
Postal address:
Direct telephone number: Do send it to them again to avoid any mistake on
the
Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track
your package over there and know when it will get to your address.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs.Kate Hegedus
Anti-fraud resources:
