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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "adedavis234000091@yahoo.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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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: "Barrister Promise Ibe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ade_davis223345@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:02:11 +0100
Subject: ATM MASTERCARD
Dear Friend ,
I have packaged and deposited your ATM MASTERCARD worth 800,000.00 USD with FedEx Delivery Services to deliver it to you.Please contact Ade Davis with the below information:
Find FedEx Contact Information Below:
====================================
Contact Officer: Mr. Ade Davis
E-mail: adedavis234000091@yahoo.cn
Tel: +234 708 762 2208
Shipment Code: CPEL/OWN/9856
Parcel Number: EG2272-NG
Kindly Re-confirm the Dispatch Information for the Delivery by providing the Information stated Below:
Full Name;........ Home Address;........ Country;...... Telephone:........ Shipment Code;.........
Once again,Insurance and delivery charges have been paid for, but the only fee remaining is the security safe keeping fee of 120USD which you will be required to pay. Also note that Fedex Services do not know the content of the parcel,I registered it as an African magazine,they do not know it contains ATM MASTERCARD inside. The ATM MASTERCARD has pin number 8346.
Best Regards
Barrister Promise Ibe Bin
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