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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- dhlcourierservice643@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DHL COURIER COMPANY <000000000christm12@att.net>
Reply-To: dhlcourierservice643@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 02:19:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTENTION,DEAR OWNER YOUR URGENT CALL +229 990 457 36
 Good Day Dear Customer,
This is the second time we are notifying about your parcel containing a valuable ATM CARD of 1.5million which was deposited by MR TERRY BANO UBA BANK MANAGER to deliver to you.
The main purpose of sending you this massage is to let you know that we have waited for you enough to re-confirm you current home address for the delivering to avoid any miss direction to your home address.
The following are all we need from you
You Full Name___________
Country________________
City___________________
Current Home Address_____________________
Direct Phone Number_______________________
For your information, MR TERRY BANO has paid for the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the ATM CARD showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. The only money you will send to the Courier Company to deliver your ATM card direct to your postal Address in your country is ($105 US)Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
 Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except ($105 US)Dollars.MR TERRY BANO would have paid that but i said no because i don't know when you will contact us and in case of demur rage.
Below is the formation for you to send the Security Keeping Fee.
Receiver Name…..CHIOBA CHINEDU KELVIN
Country…….Benin Republic City Cotonou
Text Question …Time
Answer ……Date
Amount……..105 dollars
Mtcn ………...
Mind you i will not email you again concerning this if i did not hear from you i will return the ATM CARD to the BANK to avoid problem.
Thank you for your co operation
Regard
Johnson William
(dhlcourierservice643@yahoo.com)+229 990 457 36
Direct DHL COURIER COMPANY 06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOMEY
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Anti-fraud resources:
