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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "the 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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- fedexcouriercompany812@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Edward Rogers" <frderalresersvebank@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fedexcouriercompany812@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2022 18:24:55 -0700
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD
Dear Friend,
I have paid for the delivery fee of your parcel to the FedEx Courier
services Benin. They promised that your parcel will leave immediately
they received your re-confirmed information to avoid wrong delivery.
Now contact them with your detail information below. The only money
you will send to the FedEx is for official security keeping fee which
is $99 to enable them settle the security department of their company
and deliver your parcel direct to your home address in your country
which you will forward to FedEx in the below contact information soon
ok.
Contact Person: Mr. Ken Eze,
Their E-mail address: fedexcouriercompany812@gmail.com
Their Phone number: +22956378308.
Here is the requested information needed by the Director of the FedEx
Diplomatic Division which they instructed me to email you to provide
for them while contacting them for easier identification when the
diplomat arrives in your country ok.
Kindly re-confirm to them the following information:
Your full name: ______________________
Your complete address______________________
Name of city of Residence: ___________
Country: ___________________________
Your direct cell phone number: ______________
Nearest airport: _____________________
I registered it with the FedEx Courier Company in the name of Computer
accessories as its content and I didn't let them know that it contains
ATM CARD in the amount funds of US$3.8 million because of fear of
betrayal or to avoid the Diplomat man made away with your ATM card
containing the sum of $3.8Million ok.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Edward Rogers.
Phone: +22956378308.
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