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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:
- "million dollars" (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 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.
- +22555585777 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- dhlcompanyci@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Stanley Brown" <myemailaddress@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: <dhlcompanyci@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 22:20:34 +0400
Subject: Contact DHL Courier Company with registration code
--
Attention Attention please!!!
We have been having a meetings for the past (4) months I.M.F with United
Nations Office have agreed to Compensate you with sum of $3.5Million
Dollars and fund have arrange through MasterCard ATM which is the latest
instruction from Mr. Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General, Contact Mr. Raul
Benzi DHL Courier Company with registration code ( DCJKT00678G )for
shipping of your MasterCard with your delivery information such as, Your
Name, Your Address ID CARD COPY and Your Telephone Number: And contact
below details for the shipping of your MasterCard to you..
DHL FOREIGN DELIVERY SECTION Business
Director Mr. Raul Benzi
Email: dhlcompanyci@yahoo.co.jp
Direct Tel: +225-555-857-77
DHL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY Ivory Coast Republic.
I have paid for the Insurance & Delivery fee. The only fee you have to pay
is their Security fee only. ask them how much is their Security fee so that
you can pay it and try call DHL International Express Courier Director Mr.
Raul Benzi,
Regards,
Mr. Stanley Brown
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