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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:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- dhldelivery75@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: IRU OMA <"WWW."@ivy.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: IRU OMA <dhldelivery75@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2017 03:04:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention:
Attention:
Since you refused to pay the delivery fees which is $57 for mailling post while by Courier is $109 then Federal High Court Benin Republic will divert your $6millions into
Federal Government Account FRIDAY 27TH OF JANUARY 2017.So the choice is yours to receive your $6millions or lose it.I cannot pay all the fees from the bank to bring your ATM
CARD and you still asking me to pay delivery fees you are out of your mind.CALL MY PHONE NUMBER NOW AFTER YOU SEND THE FEE $57 OR $109 CHOICE IS YOUR NOW +229-68970142
Email: ( dhldelivery75@gmail.com)
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY
RECEIVER:MARVIN EKEH
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
QUESTION: TODAY?
ANSWER: YES
AMOUNT; $57/109
You are to reconfirm us this transfer information urgently:
A) Your First Name________
?? Your Second Name___________
C) Your Country_____________
D) Your City______________
E) Your Telephone_______________
BEST REGARD
IRU OMA
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Anti-fraud resources:
