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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:
- 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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: UPS COURIER EXPRESS COMPANY <dpthap@yen.gr>
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:12:34 +0200 (EET)
Subject: Urgent delivery
UPS COURIER EXPRESS COMPANY
No 12 Air Port Road, Benin City.
West Africa Nigeria
Tel +2348072645605
Dear beneficiary,
Your package is the sum of 900,000 USD (Nine Hundred thousand United state Dollar)here in our office ready for delivery, which was given to us by Miss Marissa Tonsk (Chief Consultant) of Microsoft Corporation,saying the Nigeria notional lottery was won by your email address in your online course on Microsoft Sweepstakes 2011 in connection with oil and gas in Africa.She is here in Nigeria for period of three (3 ) months Surveying Project works with a consulting firm in the West Africa.We sending this email because your package has been registered on a Special Order.you have to contact our Delivery Department for immediate dispatch of package to you at your resident address.Note that as soon as our Delivery Team confirms the information, take only 2 (two working days(48 hours) to get to
your destination package is designed.You are advised to contact our Head Official Dispatch Mr.Famous Clark for delivery of packages home with you to your address. Please provide him with their personal data listed below:
Full Name
House Address
Phone
Occupation
Sex
Age
Country
Note that you will be responsible for paying for the security keeping fee of 250 USD because Ms. Marissa Tonsk only paid for your parcel delivery fees.
YOU ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE BELOW EMAIL ADDRESS FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:
*********************************************
UPS ® Courier Company Nigeria
Mr.Famous Clark Dispatch Officer {Head}
E-mail:upscourierexpress@cpll.cn
Telephone Number: +2348072645605
*********************************************
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Anti-fraud resources:
