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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- 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.
- f_courier@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.BENSON WILLIAMS." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <f_courier@superposta.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2012 04:57:28 -0700
Subject: RE: YOUR SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
Dear Beneficiary,
Compliment of the day to you and your family.I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your compensation Cheque which my boss left with me on his despature to England but I did not hear from you since that time till today.I went to the bank to confirm whether the Cheque is getting close to expire as it has been long time my boss issued the Cheque.The director of the bank Mr.Ahmed Zafa the Director of Financial Trust Bank Limited told me that before the draft will get to you that it will expire.Then I told him to help me and cash the Cheque worth of $2.500.000.00 to cash payment.
However,I have successfully cashed the draft and packaged it in a box and have registered it in the FedEx Courier Company here in Lagos Nigeria because I will travel to see my boss in England and will not come back till August 20th 2012.You have to contact the FedEx Diplomatic Courier Company 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 official security keeping fees which is USD$98.00 USD to receive your package.Don't be deceived by anybody.I should have paid the keeping fee but I do not know how long it will take before you contact them and the keeping fee increases weekly.
This is their Contact Address:
Director Name: Mr.David Martins
(Director FedEx Diplomatic Courier Company)
Telephone:+229-9908-6591. Or +23470-8831-3041
Fax:030-99799 2782
Their E-mail Contact:( f_courier@superposta.com )
Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your package.
This is the information they needed from you..
1)Your Full Name ===============
2)Your Home Address=============
3)Your current Numbers==========
4)Your Cell Numbers==============
5)You personal identification===
Below is your shipping code of the two of your consignment boxes so Contact them with the code below.
YOUR SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid the weekly increasing of the security keeping fee.Note; I didn't tell the FedEx Diplomatic Courier Company that it's money inside the box,I registered it as a box of a Church Minister Materials.This is to avoid delay or any upfront problem during the delivery.So,do not let them know that the package contains money.Do let me know as soon as you received your package.You will contact me only through e-mail as my phone is no longer available now that I am out from our country.I may not be able to respond to you urgent but I will get back to you whenever I checked my email.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Yours sincerely,
DR.BENSON WILLIAMS.
(Secretary)
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Anti-fraud resources:
