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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- dhloffice080@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: OFFICE FILE <bagdaljozsef@t-online.hu>
Reply-To: dhl080@mynet.com
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2016 08:28:26 +0100
Subject: CONTACT : REV: JOHN MBAKA FOR YOUR ATM CARD
 FROM ECO-WAS,
 WE JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM DHL DIRECTOR THAT YOUR ATM CARD $2M (TWO
 MILLION DOLLAR)WAS NOT DELIVERED TO YOU BECAUSE OF WRONG ADDRESS
 PROVIDED.
 IN THAT CASE, SEND YOUR DELIVERING INFORMATION TO THEM.
 N/B. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DELIVERY FEE TO HIM PLEASE INDICATE THE
 REGISTRATION NUMBER OF (22-82797457) AND ASK DIRECTOR HOW MUCH IS FOR
 DELIVERY FEE TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS.
 THEREFORE, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO CONTACT REV: JOHN MBAKA DHL OFFICE
DIRECTOR
 BENIN REPUBLIC WHO IS IN POSITION TO DELIVER YOUR ATM MASTERCARD TO YOUR
 LOCATION ADDRESS, CONTACT DHL IMMEDIATELY WITH THE BELLOW EMAIL & PHONE
 NUMBER AS LISTED BELOW.
 CONTACT NAME: REV: JOHN MBAKA
 EMAIL :DHLOFFICE080@GMAIL.COM
 TELL: +229-98233246
 LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE YOU RECEIVE YOUR ATM MASTERCARD
 REGARDS,
 MR. VALENTINA PERUCCACCI
 DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL (U.N)
 COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
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Anti-fraud resources:
