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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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "his direct line" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.imfbeninrep001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Financial Minister <info.imfbeninrep001@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:59:07 +0100
Subject: Dear Client
Dear Client
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic. are here to notify
you of your payment inherited funds of $2.5MILLION. after the meeting held
Yesterday. His Exelence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN DR YAYEE
BONI. has Instructed this Department to send your funds through western
union money transfer for easier receive of your inherinted funds without any
further delay.
This idea is to avoid paying more money to the fraud stars that is going on
through the global, you are required to send your name and address were you
want your funds to be send through western union the maximium amount you
will be receiving each day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $9000.00,
till the whole USD$2.5M is transferred to you.
Also your are required to contact Dr Lucky Obumu on his direct line ( +229
97 496 332) or send him an e-mail for Renewing and recofirming your payment
file that was deposited in their office with your name and address below .
Your Full name----------------------------
Your Home Address--------------------------------
Your HomeTelphone-----------------------------
Your Celphone number----------------------------------
Contact him with this informations below:
CONTACT PERSON: BARR LUCKY OBUMU
TEL: +229 97 496 332.
EMAIL: info.imfbeninrep001@gmail.com
As soon as you contact Barr Lucky Obumu for renewing and reconfirming the
payment file of your USD$2.5M you will start receiving your $9000.00 per day
starting from tomorrow morning.
NB: Please note that you will send them $98.00 for renewal of your payment
file, Send the $98.00 via Western union money transfer or Moneygram with
this information below:
SEND THE $98.00 AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MESSAGE WITH THIS NAME AND ADDRESS
BELOW:
RECEIVER' S NAME:--------------------- MR NNAMDI OZOR
COUNTRY:-------------------------------------BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:-----------------------------------------COTONOU
TEST QUESTION:------------------------- HOW SOON?
TEST ANSWER:----------------------------URGENT
AMOUNT:------------------------------------$98.00 ONLY.
And make sure you contact them with the $98.00 Sender name and money
transfer control number(MTCN) as soon as you wire the $98.00
Yours in service
Mrs Helen Egobia
Financial Minister Federal
Republic Du Benin
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Anti-fraud resources:
