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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:
- "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 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.
- globalmaxcouriercompany261@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: REGARDS MR JOHNSON <officefill11@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: globalmaxcouriercompany261@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2012 13:39:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT THE GLOBAL COURIER COMPANY NOW
Hello My Dear Friend I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft.but the manager of
Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin republic told me that before the check will
get to you that it will expire.So i told him to cash $850,000.00 all the
necessary arrangement of delivering the $850,000.00 in cash was made with
GLOBAL MAX COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR. Below is the needed information to enable them deliver your funds to you
immediately. the only fee you have to pay them is $225 usd that they will
use to obtain insurance certificate and claims of affidavite that will prove
that the parcel that consist total sum of $850,000.00 belong to you be rest
assure that all other fees have been paid by me.
Global Max Courier Company.DIRECTOR REV. DR. Joseph Ben.
EMAIL: globalmaxcouriercompany261@yahoo.com.hk
1.YOUR FULL NAME...............2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS............
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER....
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.........
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE...............
6.COMPANY REGISTRATION NO EG58945....
7.CODE NUMBER 0140479.......
REGARDS MR JOHNSON CONTACT GLOBAL COURIER COMPANY NOW
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Anti-fraud resources:
