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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: <>
Reply-To: <dhldelivery.c@yandex.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2015 19:46:03 +0530
Subject: CONTACT DHL OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
DEAR BENEFICIARY.
How are you? hope all is well with you and your family.I know that you might have forgotten about this your outstanding fund due to our mistake to delay the delivery up till now.I am writing to inform you that your file was found in our office today and we discovered that your cheque of $4.5 Million united state dollars have not been sent to you as it was instructed by our late boss Mr. Hilary Junas We are very sorry for the mistake and the delay, please bear with us because the fault is from our former secretary who did not complete the instruction giving by our Boss.
My dear, Note that your cheque has been convert into Master ATM Card to free it from Expiring. This is to tell you that the arrangement to deliver to you the $4.5Million in ATM CARD is concluded today and the only fee which you will have to pay is the Security Keeping fee.
Now Your ATM CARD is well packaged with every legal documents to cover it from not having any problem with any Office Authority or with your Federal Government and we have deposit your ATM Card with the DHL COURIER COMPANY to deliver it to your home as soon as you contact them with you current information.
You’re name
You’re country
You’re home address
You’re Tel phone number
You’re occupation
include your ID Card
Contact DHL director Frank Joel, Please try to call him (+91)9899435314 immediately to know when Your ATM CARD could be deliver to you.I wait for your update as soon as you have receive your ATM CARD, Frank Joel will also guide you on how to make withdrawal daily and make sure you do not give out your email account password to any offices or persons to avoid lost of information.
Dhl Email:dhldelivery.c@yandex.com
Phone/Fax: (+91)9899435314
Thanks and God Bless You.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Vivian Douglas
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