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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)
- "hundred thousand united states 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. )
- "dhlben@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Chris Colin Wier" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhlben@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2014 15:48:56 +0100
Subject: Donation
Greetings to you,
You have been issued with the sum of $1.8million Dollars from the Wier Family donation. Kindly get in touch with DHL Office in Benin Republic with the following details.
Full Names...Address/Country...Age....Phone No...
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18801698
Your awarded sum has been converted to ATM VISA CARD, loaded with the sum of US$1.8Million (One Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) with DHL Courier company with registration number DCJKT006564G.
Kindly contact DHL Delivery Service with your name, resident address and your direct telephone number for the delivery of your ATM VISA CARD.
DHL Benin Office:
Name of Dir: Thomas Meyer
E-mail: dhlben@outlook.com
Tel: +229 61820182.
We have paid for the Insurance & Delivery fee. The only fee you have to pay is the Security fee. Kindly indicate the registration Number and ask them how much is the Security fee so that you can pay it to enable them deliver your parcel.
Chris & Colin Wier.
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Anti-fraud resources:
