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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- dhlcourierbenin11@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Mark David." <madeleinesheila.2011@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: dhlcourierbenin11@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 06:39:46 +0900 (KST)
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,
We want to bring to your notice that we have paid the delivery fee for your consignment box. All the necessary arrangement has been done
Your $1.400.000.00 USD In cash was deposited in our company DHL COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY.
CONTACT Rev. MARK DAVID
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF DHL
BENIN REPUBLIC.
EMAIL:( dhlcourierbenin11@hotmail.com )
Tel: +229-98249875
Send to them your contacts informations as it was mentioned bellow to enable them locate you.
YOUR NAME.
HOME ADDRESS.
PHONE NUMBER
COUNTRY.
SEX AND YOUR ID.
Note:Our diplomatic Agent don't know the content in that Box.They dont know that the
box contains money, for we registered it as a Box of PRECIOUS VALUABLE; tag no:0057624.
So dont reveal to them what was inside so that they will not think otherwise
Best Regard From
Rev. Mark David.
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Anti-fraud resources:
