joewein.net   joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days
  jwSpamSpy

Home
About Us
Spam
419/Nigeria
Fraud
Contact

"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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "DHL Customer Department" <customerdepartment@dhl-online-uk.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:08:50 +0000
Subject: DHL Package Confirmation and Transaction Instructions

 

                                                

 

Dear Customer, this message contains HTML Graphics. If your e-mail address doesn't support HTML Graphics please read the instructions from our second e-mail. Thank you!

   Dear Customer, we have your package in our custody.

  Description of goods:

Quantity:2
Samsung D500 Mobile Phones*

   Additional Specifications:

      
   *
Legal Papers and Warranty Papers

 

   Receiver of the package:

First Name
Eduard 
Last Name
Bogosian
Address
Gugkosian 18 Street, Block 9, Room 33
City/State
St. Petersburg
City Code/Zip Code
- - -
Country
Russia

   Sender of the package:

First Name
Andrew
Last Name
Whitt
Address
22 Stanton Road
City/State
London
City Code/Zip Code
SW20 8RJ
Country
United Kingdom

   You will have to make the money transfer via Western Union on the name and address of our DHL Agent listed bellow:

First Name
Jeremy
Last Name
Brewer
Address
32 Garlick Hill
City/State
London
City Code/Zip Code
E12 3NB
Country
United Kingdom

      Dear Customer, to complete the transaction, you will have to make a money transfer via Western Union on the name of our DHL Agent - Jeremy Brewer -.  You can find the information about him needed to make the money transfer listed in the table above.
   Attention! The Money Transfer must not be made using Western Union Online Money Transfer due to the high fraud risk. We will not confirm any money transfer made via Western Union Online Money Transfer.  
   After you complete the money transfer you will have to send us the money transfer information for verification at our Payment Department's e-mail address: PaymentDepartment@DHL-Online-UK.com
   The money transfer information that you need to send to us for verification are:
   - MTCN - Money Transfer Control Number
   - Sender's Name and Sender's Address 
   - Amount Transferred
   The money transfer information will be verified by our Payment Department and if everything is in order the package will be delivered to your shipping address.
   After you will receive the merchandise, check it and if you will be totally satisfied with it, you will instruct us to release the funds the sender of the package.
   You will have two days to decide whether you want to keep the package or not.
   The funds will be released to the Sender of the package only when you'll instruct us to do so.
   If you are not satisfied with the package you will simply have to return it to us and it will be delivered back to the  sender at the sender's expense.
   In this case you will also go to the Western Union Agent where you have made the money transfer and refund your money.

   For DHL support, contact us at: CustomerDepartment@DHL-Online-UK.com

                                                                                    

   
   Thank you for using DHL!

   Nicole Card - DHL Customer Department

    Copyright  ©2005  DHL International (UK) Ltd.  All Rights Copyright Reserved

--

Anti-fraud resources: