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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:
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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. )
- 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.
- +22993410339 (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.
- delcourierservice@netcourrier.com
Fraud email example:
From: Hana Musat <musat2009f@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrhana@hotmail.fr>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:37:36 +0000
Subject: Attn,
Attn,
Due to the fact that i have been waiting for you since to contact me for release of your ATM CARD of $200,000.00, hence i went to Del Courier Service to Deposit it for safe keeping.
Contact Del Courier Service on below info :
Del Courier Service
Attn: Mr Vicent Cole.
Phone: +229 9341 0339.
Email : delcourierservice@netcourrier.com
I have already paid for the delivery charges but they did not allow me topay for the security keeping fee because they don't know when you will be contacting them, the security keeping is $255 only.
Which you are expected to pay them to dispatch your atm card to you to go to any atm machine post for withdrawal.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr Hana Musat
Anti-fraud resources:
