|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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 service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "surreyx028@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Catina Edgar" <123@smtptools.com>
Reply-To: <surreyx028@w.cn>
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 03:31:21 -0700
Subject: CONTACT SURREY COURIER COMPANY
>From Mrs Catina Edgar (PX028 )
Good Day! I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Cashiers Cheque but did not hear from you since that time. So i went to the bank to confirm if the draft is getting close to expire and the Manager of the bank told me that before the draft will get to your address that it will expire.Then I told him to help me and cash the bank draft of $6.5 million to cash payment. However,
I have successfully cashed the draft and packaged your Cash in a Cargo box and had registered it in the SURREY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES here in Benin Republic I have gone to see my boss and will not come back soon.
You have to contact the SURREY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES to know when they will deliver your package to your address. I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fees. The only money you have to send to them is their SECURITY KEEPING FEE to receive your package and as i do not know when you will be contacting them. SURREY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES ADDRESS BELOW/
DR STEVEN EDMUND
E-MAIL: (surreyx028@w.cn)
CONTACT PHONE (+229) 96083744)
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This is the information they need from you.
1. YOUR FULL NAME.
2. YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
3. YOUR CURRENT MOBILE NUMBER.
4.OCCUPATION
Try to contact SURREY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fees. Note; I didn't tell the SURREY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES that it's money inside the box, I registered it as a package as Family Valuables. This is to avoid delaying or any upfront problem during the delivery, So do not let them to know that the package contents money inside until you have received it in your house address ok and this is the code which you send to them for verifications(PX028). Do let me know as soon as you received your package. Contact me by email ok.
Best Regards,
Mrs Catina Edgar
|
Anti-fraud resources:
