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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:
- "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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "million us dollars" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- fedexdelcomp28@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Tony Uche" <smokbbq@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: fedex912@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:30:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERING COMPANY FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT.
Hello My Dear,
I have been waiting for you since then to come down
here and pick your outstanding payment left you but I did not hear from you
since that time as we fixed. Then I went and deposited the US$8.5 million us
dollars. I lodged the funds inside a Copper box as Consignment with FedEx
Courier Company ltd because I traveled to China to visit my friend for the
Company's Annual Board meeting. I will not come back till next month end.Please
note that I did not disclose to the Courier that the content of the Consignment
Box is cash money, instead I registered the consignment as containing some
pieces of Art work, this was for security reason and to ensure that the
Consignment fund reached you safely.
I want You to contact the FedEx
Courier Company ltd to know when they will deliver your package(fund).I have
paid for the delivering charges except the security keeping fee which they said
it can only be paid when the Deposits is ready for shipment to the Receiver.
Therefore, The only money you have to send to them is the security keeping fee
which is $150 Us Dollars to receive your package at your nominated address. So
be advised to contact the Courier Director through this below details and
reconfirm to them the information and address where to send the Package to
you.
CONTACT PERSON:DR.DAVID TANKO
DIRECTOR FEDEX COURIER
COMPANY
COTONOU,BENIN-REPUBLIC
HOT LINE:+229-988-309-40
E-mail:(fedexdelcomp28@hotmail.com)
Try
to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the Security Keeping
fee. I Would have given them the address but I later thought you have to
reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivery and to be sure
the fund is delivered to the nominated address of your Choice.Reconfirm below
information to the company.
Your Full Name:::::
Your Home
Address:::
Your Telephone(s)::::
Your Occupation:::::::
Your
Country:::::::::::
Your City:::::::::::::::
Your Nearest Airport:::::
Your really email:::::::::
Let me know as soon as you received the consignment(fund) so that I will be
sure you received the total US$8.5 million us dollars.
Best Wishes,
Mr.Tony Uche
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