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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:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- 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.
- servicedhldhlcourier@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Tracy Lopez" <atm.unitoffice@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: servicedhldhlcourier@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:05:48 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FROM MRS. TRACY LOPEZ
BENEFICIARY SIR/MADAM,
THIS IS TO BRING TO YOUR KIND AND HUMBLE NOTICE THAT YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD
WORTH THE TOTAL SUM OF $15.5 MILLION US DOLLARS HAS BEEN ISSUED AND
FORWARDED TO MY DESK FOR ONWARD DISPATCH DELIVERY TO YOU TODAY.
HOWEVER FOR SAFE SECURED DISPATCH DELIVERY THE ONLY THING WE REQUIRE FROM
YOU IS YOUR CORRECT PRESENT PHYSICAL LOCATION ADDRESS, YOUR DIRECT
TELEPHONE NUMBER(s) AND ANY FORM OF IDENTIFICATION LIKE YOUR DRIVERS
LICENSE OR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT THIS IS TO ENABLE THE DISPATCH PERSONAL
EASY AND QUICK IDENTIFICATION OF YOU ON DELIVERY AND TO BE ABLE TO CALL
YOU UPON HIS ARRIVAL AT YOUR DOOR.
NOTE IMPORTANTLY THAT YOUR DEBIT CARD WILL BE VALID FOR TWO YEARS AND YOU
CAN DOWN LOAD TO CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE, SHOP FOR GOODS AND
SERVICES(BOTH ONLINE AND DIRECT) FROM ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE
WORLD THAT YOU ARE OR YOU WISH TO GO.
GET THIS DETAILS FORWARDED TO US IMMEDIATELY AT :
servicedhldhlcourier@yahoo.com.ph YOU RECEIVE THIS E-MAIL NOW FOR ONWARD
DISPATCH OF YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD TO YOU TODAY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MRS. TRACY LOPEZ.
OFFICE OF THE FOREIGN RESERVE,
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
NB: YOUR LIMIT OF WITHDRAWAL IS US$60,000.00 PER DAY.
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Anti-fraud resources:
