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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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. )
- "west africa fund monitoring unit" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- davidyobe44@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Office <expresscourierservicetracklane@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davidyobe1@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:43:06 +0300
Subject: Kindly send your information to Highcity Express Courier Services
I am contacting you concerning the release of your inheritance fund
which has been delayed for transfer by some officials.
Your Fund has finally been approved for transfer by the West Africa
Fund Monitoring Unit. Your fund will be paid to you via MasterCard ATM
which is cash-able in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the world.
I hereby inform you that the fund worth US$16,500,000.00. has been
credited into ATM MasterCard in your favor as the payment of your
inheritance fund which has been delayed by these officers who claim to
be in possession of your fund.
Your fund to be released via MasterCard ATM is an act to uphold the
rule of law which we represent.
Your ATM Master Card has been insured by the Highcity Express Courier
Services, in case of loss or theft. Please understand that these are
standard procedures in order to ensure transparency. In view of this
development, you are requested to pay $100.00 to the delivery Company.
The only money you are obliged to pay is the delivery charges only.
You have to reconfirm the information below for security reasons.
Contact the verification officer in charge of the delivery:
Highcity Express Courier Services
Name: Mr David Thomas
Email: davidyobe44@gmail.com
Send them the following information of yours for the delivery of your ATM Card:
Full Name:__________
Delivery Address:____
Country:_______
Occupation:_____
Phone Number:____
Age:______
sex:______
God bless you.
Mr. Warren E. Buffett
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Anti-fraud resources:
