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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:
- "courier company" (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 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.
- chrisbrownoffice1@ig.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Sandra Daniels" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chrisbrownoffice1@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:21:27 +0100
Subject: Your Bank Draft of $2million
Hello,
I have been waiting for you since regarding your Bank Draft of $2million. However, I did not hear from you since that time. Therefore, I decided to deposit it with FedEx Courier Company here. I succeeded in registering Your Bank Draft with the Courier Company to make sure it will be among the Package they will deliver next week.
For your information: I paid all the charge except their delivery charges of ($95.00) which they said the beneficiary should pay to ensure them the parcel is going direct to the owner to avoid sending it to wrong person. I used this method to deposit the package safely through a courier company channel.
This is the Information they need to release your Package to you also send to them your contact information immediately. Please indicate the registration code (D115) to them when you contact them. This will help them to start the process of this delivery.
Contact director Dr. David Paul of FedEx via this Email: chrisbrownoffice1@ig.com.br
I traveled to London with my family presently and will be back next year.
Sincerely
Sandra Daniels
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Anti-fraud resources:
