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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- dhlofficebeninrepublic@kimo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com>
Reply-To: dhlofficebeninrepublic@kimo.com
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:26:29 -0500
Subject: RE:CONTCAT THE DHL OFFICE HERE NOW
I have Paid for the delivery fee for your Cheque Draft. but the managerof Financial Trust Bank Plc Benin Republic told me that before thecheck will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to cash£2.8Million all the necessary arrangement of delivering the £2.8Millionin cash was made with DHL COURIER SERVICES DIRECTOR. Below is theneeded information to enable them delivering your fund to youimmediately? The only fee you have to pay them is £125 that they willuse to obtain insurance certificate and claims of affidavit that willprove that the parcel that consist total sum of £2.8Million belong toyou be rest assure that all other fees have been paid by me. DHLCOURIER SERVICES
DIRECTOR DR.DAVID ROBERT
EMAIL: (dhlofficebeninrepublic@kimo.com)
PHONE NUMBER: +229 96040606
FIRST NAME===============
LAST NAME ===============
OCCUPATION==============
YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS.=====
AGE=====================
YOUR PICTURE.============
YOUR NEXT OF KIN=========
TELPHONE NUMBER========
FAX NUMBER==============
OFFICE ADDRESS ===========
NEAREST AIR PORT ========
PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION : (PASSPORT OR DRIVES' LICENSE 0140479===========
Please make sure you send this needed info to the Director general ofDHL COURIER SERVICES DR DAVID ROBERT with the address given to you.Note; The DHL COURIER SERVICES LTD dont know the contents of the Box. Iregistered it as a Box of family valuable belongs. They don't know itcontents fund. This is to avoid them delaying with the Box. Dont letthem know that is money that is in that Box. I am waiting for your
urgent response.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Mr. Williams Ume
General Secretary.
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