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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advise to" (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. )
- 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.
- dhlunitedstatesoffice.net@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ATM VISA CARD <jenegodwin8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: masonliam711@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:46:13 +0100
Subject: DEAR ATM BEARER
Attention Dear Funds Beneficiary This is to bring to your notice that
due to your delay in complying with the instruction given to you by
this honorable Bank UBA,that we the United Bank for Africa (UBA) have
decided to deliver your funds through an ATM CARD method because your
funds is about to be diverted to the Federal Government account as a
result of your delay so in order for you not to lose your funds which
is a total amount of $15.5MUSD,we have decided to load your funds into
an ATM VISA CARD and we have also negotiated with the Dhl Company
pertaining to their delivery arrangement as the courier company that
will be responsible for the shipping of your ATM VISA CARD together
with your Pin Number to your home address and they assured us of a
quick delivery as soon as you forward your delivery address and other
details as we noted that this will be the easiest way that you can
receive your funds. So all you are needed to do now is to email the
company in question through their email and forward your details to
them as it is listed below as they demands. You are advise to contact
Dhl Company with the below details
Email:(dhlunitedstatesoffice.net@gmail.com Director’s name:chris
W.Long You are required to send your delivery address to them as they
demanded such as 1. Your Full Name===== 2. Delivery address==== 3.
Country============ 4. Id Card attached==== 5. Occupation======== Note
that a delay in response to this message after 3days will result to
you losing your inheritance funds to the Federal Government as the law
stipulates so therefore, we urge you to contact the above mentioned
company and indicate to them with the subject “MY ATM VISA CARD
DELIVERY†for them to be sure you are the right person we told them
about. Update us as soon as you have received your ATM CARD from them.
Yours In service United Bank secretary Mrs Anabel Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
