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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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "henrywalters@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MERCY BAILEY." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <henrywalters@gmx.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:22:05 +0200
Subject: ATTN:READ CAREFULLY AND CONTACT GLS SECURITY COMPANY
ATTN:READ CAREFULLY AND CONTACT GLS SECURITY COMPANY
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU SINCE TO COME DOWN HERE AND PICK YOUR FUNDS OF ($800,000.00) WHICH MY BOSS ASKED ME TO REMIT TO YOU FOR YOUR COMPENSATION AS SOON AS YOU REQUEST FOR IT, BUT I DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU SINCE THAT TIME. THEN I WENT AND DEPOSITED THE MONEY WITH A COURIER SERVICE/SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN USA TO AVOID LOOSING THE FUNDS, AND THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS GLS COURIER SERVICE/SECURITY COMPANY.
I WILL BE OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR A 6 MONTHS COURSE AND I WILL NOT COME BACK TILL LATER IN THE YEAR. CONTACT THE COURIER SERVICE/SECURITY COMPANY WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
YOUR FULL NAME:………………………....….....YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS:……….................REACHABLE PHONE NUMBER:………....……...COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY...............................
ASK THEM TO DELIVER YOUR PACKAGE TO YOUR ADDRESS. I HAVE PAID FOR THE DELIVERING CHARGES. THE ONLY MONEY YOU HAVE TO SEND TO THEM IS THEIR SECURITY KEEPING FEE WHICH IS $450 US DOLLARS TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU BY A DIPLOMAT WHO HAVE BEEN PAID BY ME.
BELOW IS THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS:
MR.henry walters
henrywalters@gmx.com
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SEND THIS NEEDED INFORMATIONS TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL GLS COMPANY WORLD WILD MR. henry walkers. WITH THE ADDRESS GIVEN TO YOU.NOTE. THE GLS COMPANY HERE DON'T KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX FOR I REGISTERED IT AS A DAMEGES JEANS AND TEXTILE MATERIALS RETURNING TO THE RETAILER.
NOTE: THE COMPANY DON'T KNOW THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX IS MONEY.
PLEASE DON'T LET THEM TO KNOW THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX IS MONEY TO AVOID THEM FROM DELAYING THE DELIVERY OF THE $800,000.00.
TRY TO CONTACT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID INCREASING THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE AND ALSO GIVE THEM YOUR CONTACT DELIVERING ADDRESS TO AVOID ANY MISTAKE ON THE DELIVERING. LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MERCY BAILEY.
SECRETARY.
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