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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:
- "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)
- "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 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.
- dhlcompany15@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Frank john" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhlcompany15@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:18:02 +0100
Subject: Contact dhl courier company,
Attn,
I've cashed your draft/cheque in worth of $2.5.000.00 for your overdue payments,due to the expiry i boxed the money and deposited with shippment of DHL courier so to deliver the boxed to you, to avoid another hoax as you were disapointed in the past.So your requested to contact the DHL with your delivery address and your telephone numbers so they shall deliver the box to your personal receipt.Below is their contact.Tel:+22998368376 .Email;( dhlcompany15@yahoo.com) Person:Hon.James Shargani.
Here is the information needed to deliver your consignment box.your full name your address and telephone numbers Note.DHL do not know the content of your delivery as the rules of vip shipment,do comply with the norms of the v.i.p DHL shipment as the v.i.p receipient
Regard.
Mr. Frank john.
Contact dhl courier company,
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Anti-fraud resources:
