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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: PAUL AGALI <paulagali@ymail.com>
Reply-To: paulagali@mail.md
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:59:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: WE ARE WATING FOR YOUR REPLY
WE ARE WATING FOR YOUR REPLY
This is to notify you about the latest development concerning all the payment that are left in our custody,which yours are inclusive
Besides, yours where given a much bill ,in order to receive
your payment of which we did’nt hear from you for sometime now.
Â
Besides,your fund here is getting to expiry so now we request that you pay the sum of $50.for activation so that we will activate your payment file and release your fund,for you to start receive your payment 5,000.pay day until the full payment of $1.6M) is completed.
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but if you do not send the fee for the activation of your payment file we will cancel your payment.Send the money through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below:
Â
RECEIVER NAME:------Obieluo Antony.
COUNTRY------Benin .
CITY ------------Cotonou
Text Question== Honest
Answer...............Trust.
Amount...............$50.
MTCN..............
Â
We are waiting for the payment as soon as you receive this mail.
Thank you
Mr Paul Agali
Western union
Agent Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
