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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.
- 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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "we will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- 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.
- info.effegooffice11@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Donnald Williams" <info.bnkbj@zing.vn>
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:41:56 +0400
Subject: The specified file has been certified for transfer of your outstanding funds.
Dear Sir;
This is in response to file passed to us from the highest authorities /
bodies Clarification Departments Benin. The specified file has been
certified for transfer of your outstanding funds 200.000.00 as agreed and
approved. I must tell you that we are ready to deliver the transfer as you
wish as soon as you have sent the requested debt reconciliation fee as
have
explained to you .
We have sent a telex activation signal base on the pressure we are having
due to insufficient funds to making sure all beneficiary received their
payment, so we will advice you urgently comply with our instruction to
avoid the cancellation of the transfer and using the fund to pay other
.
please note that you need to acts on your party by obtain a payment
guarantee order with $30.00 (US$) send the money via Western union or
Money
Gram only with the below:
Receivers name: Godson C. Oteh
Question: What For?
Answer: Fee
Country: Benin Republic
City state: Port Novo
Zip code 229.
Confirm the MTCN .... and the senders name ....
Amount: $30.00 (US$)
Forward us the payment details, MTCN. And we will perform our obligation
of getting the fund to your location upon receiving your order and the
fee,
if you dont send this fee today, your fund will belong to our government.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Wishing you the best ,
Dr. Donald Williams.
Remittance Department.
Reply to this email : info.effegooffice11@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
