419 scam: Paul Smith <bankafricanbenin@gmail.com> Attention: DHL DELIVERY AGENT

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million us 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 service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: Paul Smith <bankafricanbenin@gmail.com>
Reply-To: PaulSmith211971@outlook.com
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2017 03:51:18 -0800
Subject: Attention: DHL DELIVERY AGENT

--
Attention: DHL DELIVERY AGENT

I am writing to confirm the fact if you are (DEAD) or (ALIVE) and
failure to reply back in the next 24hrs simply means what Mr Jude Betsy
said was right that you are dead. Mr Jude Betsy has agreed to pay the
needed charge fee valued of $70 dollars required for the Bond Stamp Duty
Fee of your ATM Card , but we have not gotten the money from him yet as
we want to find out if you are DEAD or not, so if you are still (ALIVE)
you are advice in your own best interest to reply back, The only money
you will pay to our office here is just $70 for the paper works, Take
note of this now, so we can stop further communication with Mr Jude
Betsy and deliver the (ATM Card) to your door step being the original
benefactor of the $2.5 Million US Dollars.

Text me now with this Number or call me, +1870) 724-1635

BELOW IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE $70 TO OUR
CASHIER NAME THROUGH WESTERN UNION.MONEY GRAM

Receiver Name====
Country =======Benin Republic
City ============= Cotonou
Text Question ===== today
Answer ============ Yes
Amount ======== $70
Sender Name ====
Mtcn ====

You must send us the details provided by Western Union immediately you
made thepayment of $70 usd.

Senders Name============
Sender Address==========
Sender Country==========
MTCN====================
Amount sent=============

Beside if you fail to comply with the needed $70 Dollars required
thereâ€™s no way we can deliver the consignment box to your country.z
Looking forward to hear from you if you are still ALIVE, reply back for
fast action so that your delivery will commence upon receipt of your
payment.

Text me now with this Number or call me, +1870) 724-1635

Best Regards,

Mr.Larry peter
DIRECTOR DHL COURIER SERVICE.
COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
Address: 12/1 Midombo Exp-way Cotonou-Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam