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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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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 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.
- billmartin014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dc.johnson mattew" <ruwan@btvm.ne.jp>
Reply-To: <dc.jmattew@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2018 18:55:28 +0900
Subject: URGENT REPLY DEAR BENEFICIARY.
URGENT REPLY DEAR BENEFICIARY.
This is Johnson Mathew, The Director of DHL DELIVERY COURIER COMPANY PLC
in Nigeria Lagos. It's my pleasure to inform you that our an assigned
diplomatic agent left our Country yesterday with your ATM Package valued
sum of $7.8m (Seven Million eight hundred thousand united states dollars
only) His name is Mr. Bill Martin and he have been trying to reach you
on your Email about couple of hours now, just to inform you about his
successful arrival in International Airport with your ATM VISA CARD
valued sum of $7.8M (Seven Million eight hundred thousand united states
dollars). Which he was instructed by Our D.H.L COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY
to be delivered it to your home address. He is under custom custody over
there now.
Now, you need to email him (billmartin014@gmail.com) and make sure you
fill this information one more time to enable him delivery your ATM Card
to right living home address. Contact him as soon as you receive this
email.
Fill below gaps correct and completely and forward it back.
(1)YOUR FULL NAME=============
(2)MOBILE PHONE NUMBER======
(3)CURRENT HOME ADDRESS= =======
(4)FAX NUMBER= ===============
(5)COUNTRY= ===================
(6)CITY= =====================
(7)NEAREST AIRPORT = =============
(8)A COPY OF YOUR I D FOR IDENTIFICATION.
Send the requested information above so that he can proceed. Your
airport authorities are there asking him many harassment questions. I
need your immediate text or call to him and please make sure fill this
information correctly so that he will be on his way to your house
address once he get done with them.
Regards
Johnson Mathew,
Director of DHL Courier Company.
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Anti-fraud resources:
