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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:
- "service 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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "certified bank draft" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Horn" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnhorn001@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 02:01:00 +0200
Subject: Attention Beneficiary:
Attention Beneficiary:
Sir/Ma.
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your Contract/inheritance fund file and found out that you have not received your Fund for the past years even after you have fulfilled all obligations with the banking request. This was because you were dealing with the bad eggs among the government officials who are interested on stealing funds and lodge in America, London and some Africa country like Ghana this made our bank to run out of cash but the good news here is that with the help of World Bank and United Bank for Africa we can pay you part payment of $3.5M only for now, After you have claim this you can come for the balance.
You will receive the above fund by ATM CARD, or a Certified Bank Draft which you can confirm in any bank in the world. The Certified Bank Draft / ATM CARD will be sending to your HOME ADDRESS by a UPS courier service.
{A}Please we are not demanding for any fee/fees from you expect the courier service fees to dispatch the ATM CARD, or a Certified Bank Draft.
{B}You can come to London or any of our branches closer to you to pick your fund.
{C} if you have an account with the UPS it is free deliverance to your doorstep.
{D}The cost of deliverance is 370$ only.
If you have read the above and agreed to work with us please reconfirm the following to us
{1} your full name
(2} your full address
(3} your direct telephone number.
{4} passport photo.
Further more below is an example of tracking numbers you can track from UPS and ARAMEX website to confirm people like you who have received their ATM CARD AND BANK DRAFT successfully:
(1).Name: Mrs. Lydia Hilton
Website: www.ups.com
Tracking Number: h7910086543
(2)Name: Samuel Brown:
Website: www.aramex.com
Aramex Tracking Number: 7843074734
(3)FedEx
http://fedex-service.tk/
TRACKING NUMBER: 95122487537
Regards.
Mr. John Horn.
Director, Foreign Operation ATM Card Dept
Intercontinental Bank Plc
www.atmcardpayment.com
If you have received this email in error, you are advice to delete this email or destroy the content of this email. Do not reply this email contact the person ABOVE directly for ATM SWIFT CARD.
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Anti-fraud resources:
