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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:
- "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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- info_ups_benin@o2.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Patrick Dillah" <bofi_2007@mixmail.com>
Reply-To: <info_ups_benin@o2.pl>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:14:43 +0100
Subject: CONTACT UPS DELIVERY COMPANY
FROM DEPARTMENT OF DEBT PAYMENT ALLOCATION
FOREIGN PAYMENT COMMITEE BOARD
YOU ARE HEREBY BEING NOTIFIED OF A CASH PAYMENT ALLOCATION OF USD$1.2 MILLION DOLLARS.FOLLOWING THE ORDER BY ECOWAS HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT FOR PAYMENT OF ALL FOREIGN DEBTS,AND RESTITUTION FOR ALL SCAM VICTIMS,THE OFFICE OF THE ECOWAS PAYMASTERGENERAL,RELEASED YOUR $1.2M CASH FOR ONWARD DELIVERY TO YOU.THE MONEY IS SEALED IN A TRUNK BOX AND SECURED WITH MAXIMUM SECURITY AS IT IS COMBINATION-LOCKED.
THIS BOX HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE UPS DELIVERY COMPANY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOUR DESTINATION IN YOUR COUNTRY.THE COMBINATION CODE WITH WHICH TO OPEN YOUR BOX SHALL BE SENT TO YOU BY THIS OFFICE AS SOON AS YOU CONFIRM ARRIVAL OF THE CONSIGNMENT IN YOUR DESTINATION.FILL THE FORM BELOW AND SEND TO UPS COURIER DELIVERY ( CARGO SERVICES ) AS STATED BELOW.
BE INFORMED THAT THE COURIER COMPANY IS NOT AWARE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS PACKAGE.DO NOT TELL THEM THAT YOU KNOW IT IS MONEY.
CONTACT PERSON: DR GIBSON EGA
UPS EMAIL CONTACT: info_ups_benin@o2.pl
TELEPHONE: +22996606731.
SHIPMENT CODE: AWB 33X2S
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE: NOGT442,
SECURITY:NOCTC/2010/FMF-PY/567/
TRANSACTION CODE: 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE: TCC/BUN/BC/-78/012
*********************************************************************************
SEND To My Nominated Address below:
YOUR FULL NAME.......................
ADDRESS IS: ..........................
Tel:........................
As the legal beneficiary,I hereby promise and contract that I will be settling the delivery charges of €285 Euro with immediate effect as soon as the UPS courier company notified me when the delivery of my consignment will take place.
Your name:......................... ............
Kindly contact the UPS as soon as possible.
BEST REGARDS
MR PATRICK DILLAH
OFFICE OF THE PAYMASTERGENERAL
DATED - 13-8-2010
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