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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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 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.
- dhlexpress_nig@citromail.hu (Citromail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Bank of Africa <web572903@gmail.com>
Reply-To: banksofafrica87@aol.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2022 17:43:26 +0100
Subject: Contact Dhl for delivery of your package
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Attention Beneficiary
I have waited for you regarding your Fund ATM CARD and Documents but
there is no positive response from you so I went and deposited the
Package with DHL Express because I will be out of the country for 8
Months Course and I will not come back until end of January 2023.
What you have to do now is to contact the DHL Express as soon as
possible to know when they will deliver your package to you without
any further delays. And for your information, I have paid for the
delivering Charges.
The only money you will send to the DHL Express to deliver your
Consignment direct to your postal Address in your country is ($290.00
US) Two Hundred & ninety Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of
the Courier Company so far.
I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when
you will contact them and in case of demurrage.
Now contact the DHL Express immediately for the delivery of your
package with this information bellow:
Contact Person:John Evans
Email Address: dhlexpress_nig@citromail.hu
DHL Allen Ikeja Office (Courier Service)
Physical Address: 41 Allen Ave Ikeja Lagos
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct
telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery
and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your
package over there and know when it will get to your address.
Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this
mail to avoid any further delay and it is important that you pay them
their Security Keeping fee of ($290.00 US) Dollars for their immediate
action.
Yours Faithfully,
Adesina Akinwunmi
Managing Director at Bank of Africa
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Anti-fraud resources:
