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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- 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.
- jefferyjain.usa@washingtondc.usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev: Peter Allen Jr" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revnannaluis@9.cn>
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:10:40 +0100
Subject: FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Developement Bank (B.DV)
Cotonou Benin Republic
FROM THE DESK OF;
REV: PETER ALLEN JR
FINAL PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Attention:
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your lottery inheritance Check file and found out that why you have not received your inheritance Check payment is because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your inheritance Check payment. Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with none officials in the bank in all your attempt to secure the release of the fund to you.
I wish to advise you that such an illegal act have to stop if you wish to receive your payment since we have decided to bring a solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through our swift USA Diplomatic Courier Inconjuction with the USA High Commission and European Union to carry out immediate release of your fund ($1.3Million USD), that is the latest instruction from the President federal Republic of BENIN.
So the Instruction have be pass to Apex Diplomatic Courier to carry out the Delivery $1,300,000.00 US Dollars and all the necessary arrangement of delivering of the $1,300,000.00 in cash was made with Apex Diplomatic Courier Company Benin Republic.
Please write to them with your contact details with given address below.
Company, USA Diplomatiq Association Co.
Contact Person. Dr.Jeffery Jain
EMAIL: jefferyjain.usa@washingtondc.usa.com
Phone 00229 97 02 02 49
Note: The Diplomats Officers Who Will Bring The Consignment Package To Any Place Of Your Choice Does Not Know The Original Contents Of The Box. We Made Them To Understand That The Box Contains A Sensitive Photographic Film Material Instead Of Money For Security Reasons.
Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they need from you.
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.YOUR AGE----------------------------------------
7.COUNTRY------------------------------------------
Best regards
Rev: Peter Allen Jr
Development Bank (D.BV)
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