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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)
- 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.
- dhlcompanybennbranch@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Scott Rose <missscottrose@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Miss Scott Rose <atmmaster_office@yahoo.dk>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:25:25 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: GOOD NEWS
 Dear friend
I am miss Rose a director in-charge of International Debt of Settlement Fund and Operations Dept, in our bank.
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract/inheritance file and found out that why you have not received your payment is because
you have not fulfilled the obligation given to you in respect of your contract/inheritance payment.
Right now we have arranged your payment through our swift ATM Master Card Payment Center Asia Pacific.
However, Kindly contact the DHL manager MR.Hoover Fuller from Integrated Payment Department email: { dhlcompanybennbranch@yahoo.com } Direct Line: +229-6886
-2472. And note him your full delivery address BELOW
FULL NAME=====================
Call phone=====================
Occupation=========================
Sex/Age=======================
ID============================
For immediate delivery of your ATM CARD, The ATM Master Card Payment Center issued out $5.7million USD as part of payment for this quarter.
Thanks and wish you luck.
Miss Rose Scott
Director, International Debt Settlement
Fund Operations Dept,
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Anti-fraud resources:
