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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:
- "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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Fred Otumba" <tobiabucher@teletu.it>
Reply-To: "Mr.Fred Otumba" <dhlservice97@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2018 01:46:42 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn
Attn.
This is to notify you that your fund $ 2.8M has been programmed in an ATM
visa card for immediate delivery to you upon reconfirming your physical
destination address as all arrangements has been finalized and to released to
you as the legitimate beneficiary of the fund, via global ATM visa card.
Your ATM visa card worth USD $ 2.8M united state dollars was with a delivery
service here in Benin Republic, for we have waited enough to hear from you so
that your funds can be transferred through UBA Bank here, but due to the late
response we decided to credit the fund through ATM CARD.
Requirements:
(1) Receivers name
(2) Your home address
(3) Your direct telephone
(4) Your passport or ID card
Finally, be informed that we have left an instructions to the delivery company
for urgent delivery of your ATM visa card immediately you forward them the
required information, feel free to get in touch with them today.
Below is the contact information of the delivery company:
DHL Director Mr.Harrison Wilson
Tel + .
note that A Tax/Stamp Duty MUST be procured according to the New Customs Creed
and the essence to ensure a hitch-free delivery
Regards
Mr.Fred Otumba.
UBA Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
