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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment unit" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "ecowas " (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 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.
- dhldelivery22@post.com (Post; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Good News Beneficiary!!" <dhlcounrier@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhldelivery.bj@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:13:12 -0500
Subject: Good News Beneficiary!!
Good News Beneficiary!!
I am Mrs. Jenna Goudreau the new Director Foreign Payment Unite. Be
informed that your ATM Card Value $5.8M been your compensation from the
Ecowas office, which is for the support of the Economic Meltdown and World
Bank Assistance Project has now been deposited this morning via Dhl
Express, you are advice to contact Mr. Barry Brown, the head department
with your Full Information such as follow
Full Names:
Home Address:
Country:
State/ City:
Phone number:
Scan Copy of Your 1D
Where they will deliver your parcel to you, We all agreed up that your
delivery will take place and soon as you get in touch with them.
Contact Person: Mr. Barry Brown
Tel: +229 99558846
Email : dhldelivery22@post.com
Yours truly,
Mrs. Jenna Goudreau
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Anti-fraud resources:
