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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:
- "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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- postaldelivery2010@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. ALEX ALINCO" <dhg4342@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: "MR. ALEX ALINCO" <postaldelivery2010@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:49:45 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: ATM CARD DELIVERY
Attention; Please!
I have registered your ATM MASTER CARD of (USD$850.000.00) with
(POST OFFICE) with registration code of (011-827-8947) to avoid
expiry. I succeeded in registering Your ATM MASTER CARD with
(POST OFFICE) to ensure the delivery is complete this week
or next week depends on your response to them. What you have
to do is to contact them with the given information below:
Attn: Mr Ben Okoye.
POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
WEST AFRICA STATES,
Tel: +229-9829 2981
E-mail: postaldelivery2010@gmail.com
Base on the charge involve for the delivery, I paid for their
Insurance & Delivery fee. The only fee you have to pay them is
their Security Keeping Fee of (US$45.00) Forty Five United State
Dollars, which it accumulated and will cover other necessary expenses.
Please indicate the registration Number of (011-827-8947) to them when
contacting or calling them.
Best Regard's,
Mr. Alex Alinco
________________________________________
PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet
http://www.peoplepc.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
