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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:
- "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. )
- "courier company" (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.
- 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.
- dhlexpresscourier113@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DHL <jerry_j1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: DHL <dhlexpresscourier113@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2018 05:00:25 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention;
Attention;
Please! I have been waiting for you since regards your Bank draft of
$3.8Million Usd) but i did not hear from you since that time. So I
decided to deposite with DHL Express Courier Company here to avoid
expiry. I suceeded in registering Your Bank Draft with DHL Express
Courier Company to make sure it will be among of the parcel they will
deliver this week or next week.What you have to do is to contact them
with their information below; Attn; Mr Donald. D. Adams DHL International
Express Courier Company Director Benin Republic West Africa,
E-mail: dhlexpresscourier113@gmail.com
For your information: I paid all the chargs except their delivery
charges of $80 which they said the beneficiary should pay to ensure
them the parcel is going direct to the owner to avoid sending it to
wrong person. Please indicate the registration code (8279) to them
when contacting or calling them. Thanks for your patience.
I and want you to know that the $80 is the only fee you have to pay, so I want you to go now and send the $80 right now so that your package will be deliver
to the address provided today.
HERE IS THE INFORMATIONS TO SEND THE MONEY TO MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION OFFICEMONEYTRANSFER BELOW
Receiver:. . . . . . BALOR UDE
Country. . . . . .Benin Republic
City. . . . . . Cotonou
Question. . . . God
Answer. . . . . Save Me
Amount. . . . . . $80
MTCN. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Senders Name. . . . . . . . . . . .
thanks.
Tle call +229 64682466
Mr Donald. D. Adams
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Anti-fraud resources:
