419 scam: "Mr. Anthony Walter" <patrick_tsoi@yahoo.cn> Dear: Beneficiary,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

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.

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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +22998987250 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Anthony Walter" <patrick_tsoi@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: "Mr. Anthony Walter" <dhlservice448@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:30:34 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Dear: Beneficiary,

Dear: Beneficiary,

Having reviewed all the obstacles and problems surrounding the transfer of
your (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and your inability to meet up with some charges levied against you due to the
past transfer options, We the Board of Directors, Bank Of Africa (BOA)
has ordered our Foreign Payment Remittance Unit to issue you a CORPORATE VISA CARD where your payment will be uploaded and today, we got notice
that your Payment has been uploaded into this CORPORATE VISA CARD and
also have registered it with DHL for delivery to you.

For
your information, the delivery charge has been paid and they were
supposed to have shipped your packaged ATM CARD but they insisted that
you must re-confirm to them your current delivery address to ensure
accurate Delivery.

MOST IMPORTANT: Due to the content of
the package, DHL mandated that before your package will be shipped, A
Tax/Stamp Duty MUST be procured according to the New Customs Creed and
the importance of such Document is to ensure a hitch-free delivery and
the amount is 185 united state dollar only. Therefore re-confirm your
current delivery address as listed below:

(1) Full Name.............
(2) Country Name.............
(3) Delivery Address.........
(4) Occupation.............
(5) Sex..................
(6) Age.................
(7) Telephone Number...........
(8) A Cope of Your Passport/ Drivers Licenses...................... ..

Contact Person: Dr.Jerry Loe (Director General)
DHL Courier Company Contoun Benin Republic,
Plot No. 23 Patte D'Oie 03 BP 2147 Cotonou
Telephone Number:+229 98987250
Email:(dhl-service@outlook.com)

Please hurry now as your package might attract more charges if it stays more than 3days with DHL.
Thanks,
MR. ANTHONY WALTER.
FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BOA.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam