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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: DANIEL JAMON <officemals3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomaticagent1@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:56:23 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: OPEN THIS MESSAGE!!!
KIND ATTENTION!
This is to bring to your notice that, I have paid the re-activation fee and the delivery of your ATM CARD.I paid it because the ATM Card $1.5M,has only 21 days to expire and once it expires the money will enter into Government account.
With this I paid the money so that the CARD will not be expired,and i know that when you get your CARD you will compensate me .Now act fast and contact DHL DELIVERY COMPANY with your Full Contact information for them to dispatch your Card to your designated address without any delay.
Like i stated earlier, The delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keeping fees .They refused and the reason is that they do not know when you will contact them .Please contact our Head Office in North Carolina U.S.A with the below information:
DHL COURIER COMPANY PLC
Address: 501 JOHN STREET CLAYTON,NC U.S.A.
Co-ordinator Officer :Mrs Joannie
Email address: ( dhlconpany.us.gov@xnmsn.com )
Contact them Today to avoid much delay with increase of their keeping fee.Pls let me know once you receive your Card.
Contact them with the following details:
(1)FULL NAMES:
(2)CONTACT ADDRESS :
(3)E-MAIL ADDRESS:
(4)AGE & SEX:
(5)DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:
(6)FAX NUMBER:
(7)COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
(8)STATE OF ORIGIN:
(9)OCCUPATION:
Yours,
Diplomat Daniel
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Anti-fraud resources:
