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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- agent_money@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: GOODWING MIKE <israrkhan62@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: agent_money@sify.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:52:20 +0530 (IST)
Subject: republic of Benin Money Gram Send Money Worldwide
MONEY GRAM HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE +229-99 13 98 11
WEBSITE.www.moneygram.com
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY,
Yes. It is truth that you have payment of $5.000.00 USA Dollars Every Blessing Day here and the amount of $2.6used in this Department Money Gram,But we wish to inform you our instructions first before our we will release MTCN payment informations to you, We have nstruction and as soon as you follow our procedure here then your payment will be release to you immediately.
Note: that all the necessary arrangement concern your MTCN NUMBER is ready now but we can not release the payment on hold untill you send our office keeping fee which is $75.00 before we will give you the full informations to pick up the $5.000.00 today through money gram in any country.
Again. we are working according to our rules and regulations that guiding our Department now to aviod problem be advise to send our office keeping fee which is $75.00 before we will release your Mtcn payment informations to you. please comple with us to aviod any delay.
Therefore check yourseif well to know if you can come up with the amount needed today then let us know immediately by forward the payment informations after sending the $75.00 today. you will start receiveing your payment as from tomorrow morning before 11 AM our time tomorrow.
So go ahead and send the payment via western union with our cashier informations below.the transfer charge can not be more than $75.00 us dollars ok.
Reciever Name: :MR BENJAMIN OJADI UDE
Location: :Cotonou,
Country: :Benin Republic
Text Q: :How much?
Answer::::::$75.00
Mtcn::::
Amount:::::.$75.00
Then the sender's name ok.
Send the money via weste rn union money transfer and forward the payment informations to us for easier pick up.
The Agent will start sending your payment as soon as we got everything done today but any delay will make us to pick up the money back from western union to aviod another person to pick up your payment okay so hurry up.
Contact our E-mail office:( agent_money@sify.com )
Below: MTCN tracking.I advise to track your payment first so that you will know.
Call me once you send the $75.00 today Number +229-99 13 98 11
THIS IS YOUR TRACK PAYMENT INFORMATIONS AND I WILL LIKE YOU TO TRACK IT NOW: WEB SITE. www.moneygram.com &n bsp;
Sender Name:::::::Emenike Kinseley Anaeche
Text Questions::::::How Long
Answer:::::::::::::::1Hours
MTCN: 91343661
I am looking forward to receive of $75.00 immediately to enable us to give your the full informations which you will use pick up your payment in any money grambut fall to do,Yours in service
so you will loose your payment because your have only today and tomorrow after that nomore.
I wish you good luck.
Mr,BENJAMIN OJADI UDE
Officer incharge
Money Gram Department Head office
republic of Benin Money Gram Send Money Worldwide
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