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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:
- "demurrage 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. )
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "clearance document" (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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- terrywhite61@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. JOHN PIKUS DIRECTOR GENERAL UPS" <officefile034@gmail.com>
Reply-To: terrywhite61@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:44:21 +0530 (IST)
Subject: (Attn Fund Beneficiary(Here Is Your Package Unlocking CODE(AWB33XZS)
(Attn Fund Beneficiary) THIS IS MR. JOHN PIKUS DIRECTOR OF UPS (Here Is Your Package Unlocking CODE(AWB33XZS)
We wish to inform you that the needed clearance document has been obtained and your package will be delivered within two working days, the diplomatic agent conveying the 3.6millions United States Dollars MR TERRY WHITE is there waiting for your responds as soon as he hears from you with your home contact address where your consignment box will be delivered he will proceed with your package: We required you
reconfirm the following informations below so that he can deliver yourconsignment box to you today.
contact him with the contact infomation
NAME: ======================================================================
ADDRESS: ==================================================================
MOBILE NO.:=================================================================
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:===============================================
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :=============================================
ALL YOU NEED TO DO NOW IS TO TRY YOUR POSSIBLE BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEND THE DEMURRAGE FEE WHICH YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX ACCUMULATED IN THE AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICIALS WHICH IS $105usd as soon as we hear from you with the payment details the delivery agent will proceed with your package.HERE IS THE INFORMATION.
RCEIVER NAME....MR.FRANCIS OBIEDO ONYEKA,
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ....................... COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION ........ A
TEXT ANSWERE ........ B
AMOUNT..................$105USD
SENDER NAME
MTCN
Please do contact the diplomatic agent with the email below with the
informations required.
Contact Person : AGENT MR TERRY WHITE
EMAIL;(terrywhite61@yahoo.com)
Here is cell phone to contact him.(559)-372-6901
He is waiting to hear from you today with the informations.
.
THANKS FOR CHOOSING US AS YOUR FAVOURITE DELIVERY COMPANY
Regard
MR. JOHN PIKUS DIRECTOR GENERAL UPS
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Anti-fraud resources:
