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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:
- "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.
- 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.firstflight@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: "U.N GOVERNMENT" <deliveryfirstflight@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:50:29 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: Congratulations on your Credit card payment
Our Ref: FGN /SNT/STB
The Board of trustees of the United Nations Development hereby congratulate you on the approval of your Compensation payment as scam victim,please if you are not the owner of this email or you have not been a victim before be sincere to yourself by not responding,ATM CARD Number 2900 worth US$500,000 has been accreditted in your name.Kindly contact the courier company with the information below for the immediate release of your ATM CASH CARD.
Note:The only fees you are to pay when contacting the Courier Company is US$100 which is meant for the shipping of the parcel.
Contact Person:Mr.Jeffrey Simpson
Email:delivery.firstflight@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone Number:+2347033528139
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
AGE:
Regards,
President U.N Countries
Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann
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Anti-fraud resources:
