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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:
- "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. )
- "cheque " (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.
- 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: Douglas Anton <douglaaaantonn2@o2.pl>
Reply-To: westernunionofice1949@yahoo.co.th
Date: Wed, 16 May 2012 06:02:53 +1200 (NZST)
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY IMMEDIATELY
Hello Dear,
Â
I have Paid the fee for your Cheque Draft. But the manager of Eko Bank Benin told me that before the check will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to covert the cheque draft $1.5, Millions USD DOLLARÂ atm master card all the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.5, Millions USD DOLLAR in card was made with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY.
Â
CONTACT PERSON: REV. JOHN EMMANUEL (Director) HIS EMAIL:( fedexdelivery-co@admin.in.th) Contact phone number:+229 9913-9076 try to contact this EMAIL ADDRESS :( fedexdelivery-co@admin.in.th) because they are in charge of delivery your atm card to you. Please, Send them all your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately when they arrived in your country with your atm master card .
Â
 this is what they need from you.
1. YOUR FULL NAME--------------
2.YOUR COUNTRY ----------------
3. YOUR HOME ADDRESS--------------
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER---------
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE ---------------
6.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE---------------------
Â
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY, REV. JOHN EMMANUEL (Director) with the address given to you. Note. FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY doesn’t know the contents of the atm card. I register it as 1 Box Sensitive Photographic Film Material .They doesn’t know it contents money. This is to avoid them delaying with the atm card.
Â
The Deposit details:
Deposit Number: PLCC-101-PL45
Sort/Clearance Code: PLC /101-45/P50
Deposit Certificate N0.: 405576
atm master card Description: 1 Box Sensitive Photographic Film Material Depositor: Mr. Douglas Anton..
Note. they have finally agreed to collect $75 usd from you because of security keeping fee.
Â
Regards,
Mr. Douglas Anton.
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Anti-fraud resources:
