|
|
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:
- 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. )
- "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 united state 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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- infor.globaltrust_couriercompany@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister.Ms Ijeoma" <wofficeofeconomiccommunity@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: infor.globaltrust_couriercompany@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:02:16 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Re:Contact Global trust Courier Company immediately you receive this message.
(BARRISTER: FRED MOORE SR & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN
I'm writing to inform you that I have CASH your Bank Draft, And I went to the bank to confirm if the Draft has expired or getting near to expire and Mr. Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin told me that before the Draft will get to your hand that it will expired.
Then I told him to cash $2.5 Million United State Dollars to cash payment to avoid loosing the funds. However, all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $2.5M in cash was made with GLOBAL TRUST COURIER COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic , Mr. Ahmed Zafat the Director of Financial Trust Bank Cotonou have to package the $2.5 in cash.
The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee but I don't know the amount it will cost you so contact them now to know how much the This is Company Contact information.
Company Name: Global Trust Courier Company.
Contact Person: Mr.Paul Nneka
E-mail: (infor.globaltrust_couriercompany@yahoo.fr)
Phone number +229-98-08-72-31.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee. you have to reconfirm your full contact information to avoid wrong delivery.
Finally Let me know as soon as you receive your Consignment Box but bear this in mind that the company did not knew that the box contain cash $2.5 Million United State so you have to keep this top Secret.
Thanks
Barrister:Ms Ijeoma Eameka
|
Anti-fraud resources:
