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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:
- 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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "speed.trust01@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Tom Williams <macasio@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: speed.trust01@w.cn
Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 11:13:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: SPEED TRUST MAX COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR
Attention,
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but
the manager of Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin told me that
before the check will get to you that it will expire.So i
told him to cash $850,000.00 all the necessary arrangement
of delivering the $850,000.00 in cash was made with SPEED TRUST BAL
MAX COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR.
Below is the needed information to enable them deliver
your fund to you immediately.The only fee you have to pay
them is $95 usd that they will use to obtain insurance
certificate and claims of affadvite that will prove that
the parcel that consist total sum of $850.000.00 belong to
you be rest assure that all other fees have been paid by
me.
SPEED TRUST MAX COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR
PROFFESOR.Dr.Peter More.
phone line +229 98691474,
EMAIL;(speed.trust01@w.cn)
1.YOUR FULL NAME...................
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS................
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER................
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE..................
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE......................
6.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO EG58945
7.CODE NMBER 0140479
Please make sure you send this needed info's to the
Director general of SPEED TRUST Courier Company PROFFESOR.DR. Peter More with the address given to you.
Note ;The SPEED TRUSST MAX Delivery COURIER COMPANY LTD don't
know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a Box of
family valuable belongs. They don't know it contents fund.
this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don't let
them know that is money that is in that Box.I am waiting
for your urgent response.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Secretary
Tom Williams.
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