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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:
- "insurance 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. )
- "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)
- "courier company" (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. )
- 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.
- fedexcourier198@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Hon Mr. Edwin Williams." <w.uoffice200@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fedexcourier198@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 08:13:27 -0500
Subject: Contact Fedex Courier Company For Your ($2.5Million) Cash
Hello My Dear.
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of
Ecko Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will
expire.So i told him to cash ($2.5Million) all the necessary arrangement
of delivering the ($2.5Million) in cash was made with FEDEX SERVICE
COMPANY PLC.Be inform that there are some documents to be secured.The only
fee you have to send to them is( $85. usd) which will serve as the
insurance fee and claims of affirdavite to enable them deliver the parcel
to you immediately.Do contact them and let me know when you have recieve
your fund, below is the needed information to enable them
deliver your fund to you immediately.
FEDEX SERVICE COMPANY PLC
DIRECTOR Dr. ANTHONY ROBERT
Telephone==+229-9866-5539
EMAIL===( fedexcourier198@hotmail.com )
1.YOUR FULL NAME=====================
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS=================
3.YOUR HOME TELEPHONE=============
4.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE========
5.CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS=====
6.YOURNEAREST AIRPORT==========
Remember that The FEDEX Express Courier Company don't know the contents of
the Box. I registered it as a Box of an Africa cloths. They don't know it
contents
money. this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don't let them know
that is money that is in that Box
Do let me know immediately you receive your consignment that consisty Our
fund that i deposited in the fedex SERVICE company so that we can share
the joy togerther.
BEST REGARD
Hon Mr. Edwin Williams.
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