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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:
- "demurrages " (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- dhlexdhlexpress@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Edward Hartford." <maryono@kaltimpost.net>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jensen McLean" <dhlexdhlexpress@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2015 10:00:31 +0700 (WIB)
Subject: Attn Dear
Attn Dear
ATM MasterCard Valued US $500,000.00
We refer to our earlier mail on the above subject matter and apologize for the delay in transferring your overdue contract inheritance fund due to the fact that our database was attacked which resulted in shutting down of our entire system. Our professional team has worked endlessly & tirelessly to restore our system but still some data is amiss.
Your ATM MasterCard has finally been registered with the secret PIN CODE with DHL to be delivered to your point of contact being part payment of $ 500,000.00 USD.
We have also paid the delivery charges of your parcel except the Security Fee which DHL insisted that it will be paid only upon receipt of the claimant due to demurrages as they don’t know when you will be contacting them for the claim.
Kindly reconfirm your current mailing addresses to avoid wrong delivery: Full Name: Home Address: Occupation: Cell Phone: Country of Origin: Age: Id Proof Scan Copy
DHL Dispatch Officer Mr. Jensen McLean
Email: dhlexdhlexpress@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
