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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "clearance document" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Foreign Remittance (Bank Of America)"
<info.atmremittancedepartm@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:23:41 +0400
Subject: PICKUP FUND FROM YOUR NEAREST BANK.
Dear Sir.
With all due respect, Thank you for receiving my email. Please via my
banking id card and send the requirement by today. so please try all you
can to see that you send the requested fee today so that your fund will be
at your destination address by today without any further delay again non
story or any further documents again. Please note that the only fee you
have to send today is $33, Please note that this $33, is to provide you
Transfer clearance documents by today and nothing more again. Please it
will take care of every things. Below is the details to send the money by
werstern union only.
Receives Name:--------Ifeanyi Chukwu John
Country:--------- Benin Republic
City/state:--------- Cotonou.
Question:--------- What Color?
Answer:-------- -Blue
Amount:--------- $33
MTCN:---------
As soon as you send the fee, try to forward us the payment details today
so that we can proceed without any delay again. Please try all you can to
see that you do that today so that we can finalize every things by today
without any further delay again. the bank has made it clear that as soon as
you send this fee today that your fund will be at your destination address
by today without any further delay again. Please get back to us now.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
All the best
Eric Lee
Bank of America.
Management.
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Anti-fraud resources:
