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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "demurrage " (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "stamp duty" (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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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. )
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +22505500918 (Cote d'Ivoire, 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.
- apexcourier99@ciudad.com.ar (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Donald Harrison" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <harrisonharryd46@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:52:11 -0700
Subject: ATTN:(BENEFICIARY)
VILLA 11 RIVIERA GOLF COCODY
ABIDJAN COTE D' IVOIRE.
TELEX: 578761,
BANK OF AFRICAN, (BOA)
ATTN: BENEFICIARY/CONTRACTOR/AWARD WINNER
YOUR PARTICULARS WAS MENTIONED IN OUR JUST CONCLUDED SECOND-QUARTER DEBT
SETTLEMENT GENERAL MEETING. A PAYMENT OF $2.7 MILLION (TWO MILLION SEVEN
HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS) WAS APPROVED ON YOUR NAME.
THIS PAYMENT WILL BE PROGRAMMED INTO AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE
(ATM CARD) POWERED BY VISA CARD AND WILL BE MAILED TO YOUR
ADDRESS BY COURIER SERVICE.
YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY REQUIRED TO RE-CONFIRM AND FORWARD TO
MY DESK THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION'S:
1. YOUR PRESENT RESIDENT MAILING ADDRESS (NOT P.O BOX):
2. YOUR PERSONAL AND REACHABLE MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
MOST IMPORTANTLY: DUE TO THE CONTENT OF THE PACKAGE,THE COURIER COMPANY MANDATED THAT BEFORE YOUR
PACKAGE
WILL BE SHIPPED,A STAMP DUTY MUST BE PROCURED ACCORDING TO THE NEW SHIPPING CREED ON ALL PACKAGE
LEAVING AFRICA.
THE ESSENCE OF SUCH DOCUMENT IS TO ENSURE A HITCH-FREE DELIVERY AND THE AMOUNT OF THE STAMP DUTY
FEE IS $110.
WHEN THIS IS DONE,APEX COURIER WILL ISSUE YOU WITH THE TRACKING NUMBERS FOR YOUR PACKAGE BEFORE
THE SHIPPING COMMENCES.
THEREFORE RECONFIRM YOUR CURRENT DELIVERY ADDRESS DO NOT FORGET THAT $110 IS ALL THAT YOU SHOULD
SEND TO THEM THE REST OF THE FEES HAVE BEEN PAID.
YOU HAVE TO CONTACT THE COURIER SERVICE COMPANY NOW FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM CARD WITH THIS
INFORMATION BELLOW:
APEX COURIER AND DELIVERY Company
EMAIL ADDRESS:(apexcourier99@ciudad.com.ar)
TEL/FAX:+225 05500918.
PLEASE HURRY NOW AS YOUR PACKAGE MIGHT INCUR DEMURRAGE IF IT STAYS MORE THAN
THREE DAYS WITH THE COURIER COMPANY.
THANKS
DR.DONALD HARRISON
ATM DEPARTMENT MANAGER
BANK OF AFRICA
bank-of-africa.net
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Anti-fraud resources:
