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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- speedtrustbeninrepulic@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "REV.DR.NELSON UDOKA" <omambalariver2011@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: speedtrustbeninrepulic@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:24:50 +0800
Subject: CONTACT SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY
Dear Friend,
Good day, I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick
your Bank Draft but did not hear from you since that time. I went to the
bank to confirm whether the draft is getting close to expire and the
director of the bank told me that before the draft will get to your
address that it will expire. Then I told him to help me and cash the
cashier bank draft of $2. 5 million to cash payment.However, I have
successfully cashed the draft and packaged it in a box and have registered
it in the FedEx Express Delivery Company here in Benin Republic because
I will travel to see my boss and will not come back till next
month end.You have to contact the SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY LIMITED to
know when they will deliver your package to your address. I have paid for
the delivering charges and insurance fees. The only money you have to send
to them is their security keeping fees which is $105 Us Dollars to receive
your package. Don't be deceived by any body.Here is SPEED TRUST COURIER
COMPANY LIMITED Address for you to contact them urgent.
REV.DR.NELSON UDOKA
Telephone ( +2348068728242)
E-mail { speedtrustbeninrepulic@yahoo.fr }
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you
immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX. This is the
information they need from you.
FULL NAME:_ TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX
NUMBER:_ CONTACT ADDRESS:__ EMAIL ADDRESS;__ AGE:_ YOUR SEX:_
OCCUPATION:_ COMPANY:_ COUNTRY:_COMPANY REGISTRATION NO G 58945 CODE
NUMBER 012 A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT._
Try to contact SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY as soon as possible to avoid
increasing the security keeping fees. I gave them your delivering address
but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the
delivery. Note; I didn't tell the SPEED TRUST COURIER COMPANY that it's
money inside the box, I registered it as a package of an African cloths.
Best Regards
Mr.Michele Simasko
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