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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "DHL DELIVERY SERVICES" <linfo@dhl.co.uk>
Reply-To: momois112@o2.pl
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:25:53 +0200
Subject: Your Package
DHL DELIVERY SERVICES
Orbital Park 178-188
Great South West Road
Hounslow, Middlesex
TW4 6JS
This is to inform you that the delivery of your parcel which contains an
ATM CARD valued $1,000,000.00 USD from a lottery Board has been stopped by
the Revenue & Custom Services, the reason is that you need to acquire a
proof of Ownership Certificate to show that you are the legitimate owner
of the funds in the ATM Card. all our efforts to reach the sender (Your
Claims Agent) proved abortive as the phone number he provided was
incorrect, hence we decided to inform you of the need to acquire the said
certificate from the Economic & Finance Ministry here in UK as specified
by the Revenue & Custom officers here at the heathrow airport to enable us
deliver (Express Delivery) your Parcel/ATM Card to you without further
delays.
All you need to do is to contact the Revenue & Custom services on the
following email: rcservices@paysandu.com to enable them issue the said
certificate to you so as to enable us proceed on delivery. Please
reconfirm to them the following Information for recognition:
YourName:
Address:
Phone Number:
Delivery Code: DHL/254/3CF
Note: The cost of issuing the Proof of Ownership Certificate is £200 and
that is the ONLY money you will be required to pay before your Parcel/ATM
CARD gets to you as the delivery fee has already been paid by the sender.
Treat as Urgent.
Regards
Garry Donald.
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Anti-fraud resources:
