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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- consultant.wecare@email.cz (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DHL COURIER COMPANY LIMITED" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <consultant.wecare@email.cz>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2018 17:11:21 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE
Delivery Termination Update
From: DHL COURIER COMPANY LIMITED (DHL)
Address: Boulevard Saint Michel, Cotonou
Tel: +229-6945 7202
Email: consultant.wecare@email.cz
Dear Customer,
Be informed that all the pending Delivery in this office will be canceled
and diverted to Government account next week based on the order from
international monitoring funds (I.M.F). Your total fund were included to
be canceled and diverted since you are unable to pay the delivery fee
which is the sum $109 only.
We are hereby urge you to proceed the claim of your fund or stand a chance
of loosing it completely. Your urgent message will be appreciated.
Thanks For Your Co-operation. We Are Here To Serve You Better. Yours In
Service.
SIGN
JAMES EDWARD
MANAGING DIRECTOR
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Anti-fraud resources:
