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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:
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "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.
- dhldelivery774@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: " Mr. MARK GABRIEL" <"WWW."@trad.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "dhldelivery774@gmail.com" <dhldelivery774@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2017 09:29:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: The Fund Beneficiary,
The Fund Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that IMF just discovered your unpaid contract
compensation onward payment sum of US$12.5m owed to you in Africa through
IMF Central Data System and a part payment of US$8.5 Million has been
approved to be paid to you through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
Card.
I have registered the ATM CARD with DHL COMPANY as directed and the
delivery will take off as soon as you contact the COMPANY. Based on the
agreement with DHL Director, DR TERRY HERRY . The only what it will
cost you to receive your Automated Teller Machine ( ATM CARD ) is their
delivery fee of $45. Deliver: 2 days express dispatching of your parcel
to
your door step.urgent call now for more information +229-68970142
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY
RECEIVER: MIKE EZE
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
QUESTION: TODAY?
ANSWER: YES
AMOUNT; $45
You are to reconfirm us this transfer information urgently:
A) Your First Name________
?? Your Second Name___________
C) Your Country_____________
D) Your City______________
E) Your Telephone_______________
So contact the delivery company now and ask them for the payment
information to send the $45 to them ASAP, MOST IMPORTANTLY: re-confirm
your current delivery address and contact him via this email address:
(dhldelivery774@gmail.com )The amount processed in the ATM Card is
US$8.5million
Million and the PIN code is: {0608}.
Thanks.
Mr. MARK GABRIEL
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Anti-fraud resources:
