|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "dhlcourier2020@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Uche frank." <mr.tonyuche1@verizon.net>
Reply-To: dhlcourier2020@w.cn
Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 02:22:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT AND CALL DHL COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR PACKAGE.
Hello My Dear,
I have been waiting for you since then to come down here and pick your outstanding payment left but I did not hear from you since that time as we fixed. Then I went and deposited the $2.5 Million US Dollars. I lodged the funds inside a Copper box as Consignment Box with DHL COURIER DELIVERY SERVICE in Benin because I traveled to China to visit my friend for the Company's Annual Board meeting. I will not come back till next month end. Please note that I did not disclose to the Courier that the content of the Consignment box is cash money, instead I registered the consignment as containing some pieces of Art work, this was for security reason and to ensure that the Consignment Box reached you safely.
I want You to contact the DHL COURIER DELIVERY SERVICE to know when they will deliver your package(fund) to you.So be advised to contact the Courier Director through this below details and reconfirm to them the information and address where to send the Package to you.Note that the entire fee has been paid for your delivery so it's probably ($115)that remains that you will send to the DHL COURIER DELIVERY SERVICE Benin Republic which is their Security keeping fee of your consignment box so far.
Contact: Dr tony dave.
Manager: ( D.H.L Courier Company Ltd )
Contact E-mail: (dhlcourier2020@w.cn)
Tel:+229 985 554 40.
Reconfirm below information to the company.
1.YOUR FULL NAME: -----------------------
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS: -----------------------
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE: ----------------------
4.YOUR CONTACT PHONE:-----------------------
5.YOUR COUNTRY: -----------------------
7.YOUR AGE: -----------------------
Let me know as soon as you received the consignment(fund) so that I will be sure you received the total $2.5 Million US Dollars.
Best Wishes,
Mr.Uche frank.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
