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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)
- "does not know the contents of the box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("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. )
- "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. )
- "shalomdipcourier@live.fr" (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: "BOMA TAMUNO BRIGGS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drbomat1@live.fr>
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 01:27:02 +0100
Subject: contact the courier company for your fund
Dear Friend,
I have registered your Cheque Draft.but the manager of Eco-bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to cash $1,950.000.00 US Dollars and all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1,950.000.00 in cash was made with Shalom Coast Diplomatic Courier company Benin Republic.
Please write a letter of application to the given address below.
Dr.Goodluck Douglas
EMAIL:(shalomdipcourier@live.fr)
Phone +229 979 498 83.
Note: The diplomat who will bring it to any place of your choice does not know the contents of the box, I deposited it as a sensitive photographic film materials instead of money for security reason, so please, 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/OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER--------------
4.YOUR OCCUPATIONE-------------------
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE--------------------------
6.YOUR AGE----------------------------------------
7.COUNTRY------------------------------------------
Boma Tamuno Briggs
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Anti-fraud resources:
