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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:
- "demurrages " (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 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.
- speedtrustcouriercompan1@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Pastor Johnson Bello." <vectorpanther@verizon.net>
Reply-To: speedtrustcouriercompan1@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:49:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY LTD FOR YOUR ATM CARD NOW
Attention Beneficiary:
How are
you doing today and Your Family, Hope all is well with every one of you by God
Grace?
We are here to inform that we have warn all the obstacles and
problems surrounding the transfer of you funds Value $2.8Million Usd and your
inability to meet up with some charges levied against you due to the past
transfer options, We the Board of Directors, Financial Bank Of Benin Republic has ordered
our Foreign Payment Remittance Unit to issue you an ATM
CARD where your payment will be uploaded and today,we got notice that
your Payment has been uploaded into the ATM CARD and also have registered it
with SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY LTD for delivery to you.
For your
information, the delivery charges have been paid and they were supposed to have
shipped your packaged ATM CARD but they insisted that you must re-confirm to
them your current delivery address to ensure accurate Deliver.
MOST
IMPORTANT: Due to the content of the package, SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY LTD
mandated that before your package will be shipped that ( International Delivery
Permit certificate) must be obtained and Tax Duty MUST be procured according to
the New Customs Decreed and the importance of such Document is to ensure a
hitch-free delivery and the amount is $135.USD which will be pay by you as soon
as you contact the Speed Trust Courier and make sure they give you shipment
tracking number once you send them the required fee.
Therefore
re-confirm your current delivery address to SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY
LTD.
Your Full Names========================
Delivery
Address========================
Your Telephone
Number=================
Office Telephone Number================
hotograph
or Passport ID================
Age /Statu=======================
Your
Order Email=================
Note below of the Speed trust courier
company contact information:
Director name: DR JOHN KOFFI
Telephone
Number:+229-98 877 596
Email: ( speedtrustcouriercompan1@hotmail.com
)
Please hurry now as your package might be in demurrages if it stays
more than 5days with SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY LTD.
Thanks and Remain
Bless.
Pastor Johnson Bello.
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