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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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 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: "Mrs Vera Blair" <movieworld@time.net.my>
Reply-To: citylink.customerservice1@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:12:58 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: Vital Info
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank
Draft of $800.000.00 US Dollars, but I did not hear from you hence I
deposited the Draft with CITY LINK Couriers Limited, West Africa.I have
paid for the delivering Charge and Insurance premium.
The only money you will send to the CITY LINK Couriers Limited to
deliveryour Draft is ($150.00 US) Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee
of theCourier Company so far. Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay
any other money except $150 US Dollars. Contact CITY LINK Couriers Limited
with this information below;
Contact Person: Mr.Victor Ferdinard
Email Address: citylink_customerservice@hotmail.com.hk
Telephone:+(234)808-644-1701
Make sure you reconfirm your Postal address( ) and Direct telephone number
to them and ask them for your tracking Pin Number.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Vera Blair.
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Anti-fraud resources:
