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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- delivery.adamsdesk@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "GLOBAL COURIER DELIVERY SERVICES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <delivery.adamsdesk@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 22:38:33 -0700
Subject: URGENT MESSAGE FROM GLOBAL COURIER
===================GLOBAL COURIER DELIVERY ===================
GREETINGS FROM GLOBAL COURIER,
Date: 31/08/2010.
This is to inform you that there is a package in this office deposited by the
NOKIA WEST AFRICA INC. on the 29th of August, 2010. Your email address
and four others were randomly selected as winners for this years NOKIA WEST
AFRICA ONLINE PROMO. I have been waiting for you to contact me for your
confirmable package which contains an ATM card of 950,000.00 USD,
Nokia E70 series phone and some vital Documents of fund release.
50% OF YOUR DELIVERY CHARGES HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID AS IN
ACCORDANCE TO THE HARD COVER INSURANCE POLICY ON YOUR
SENSITIVE PARCEL, HOWEVER YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SEND
THE BALANCE $210 TO BEFORE DELIVERY COMMENCES.
====================================================
Kindly contact our branch office
GLOBAL COURIER DELIVERY OFFICE
Agent: MR. EFE ADAMS
Email: delivery.adamsdesk@hotmail.com
Cell: +2347067419690
====================================================
You are required to provide him with the following information:
Name:
Address:
Age:
Marital Status:
Nationality:
Cell Phone Number:
====================================================
NOTE: Every claim has an expiry period of fifteen working days
(15days).
Regards,
Barr.Lloyd Briggs.
===================GLOBAL COURIER DELIVERY ===================
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Anti-fraud resources:
