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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- barr_jacob_s_adjamonsi@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Board of Federal Ministry of Finance <tipping_harold@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barr_jacob_s_adjamonsi@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:56:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Confirm Your Payment From Western Union Money Transfer
Attn:
Client,
This is to
inform you that Federal Government Benin is
now to handle all foreign arias/debts. The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance
Benin Republic. are here to notify you of your payment
inherited funds which you failed due to over requirement fee from one office to
another, After the meeting held on yesterday.
His
Excellence has instructed Ministry of Finance Repoblic of Benin to compensate
all foreign arias/debts. which is those that paying money
for fraud stars here in Benin Repoblic with the sum $800.000.00
usd.
Also instructed
this Department to send your funds to you through Western Union Money transfer
for easier receive of your inherited funds without any further delay. and every
arrangement has been conculded with Western Union Head Office Benin
Repoblic,
They request your name and address were you want your fund to be
send through western union. The maximum amount you will be receiving each day is
sum of $3,500. Also you are requires to send $70.00 dollar, to
western union office for re-newing and reconfirming your file
that Department has been deposited in their office with your name and
address. so all you need is to contact them with your information.
This is how you
should list your information bellow;
Beneficiary
name----------------------------
Address--------------------------------
Tel
phone-----------------------------
Text
question--------------------------
And
Answer-------------------------
Here is their contact
information;
Director Name. Jacob Sylevere
Adjamonsi,
Email adress (barr_jacob_s_adjamonsi@hotmail.com)
and phone no
+229-97-568-899
Note that as soon
as the required fee of $97.00 is send today for the renewing
reconfirming the
payment file of your funds you will start receiving your
funds as from
tomorrow.
Send the
$97.00 dollar through western union with the name and address
below:
Receiver name
--------CHIZOR CHINAKA
City--------------------------- COTONOU
Country------------------
--BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question------------HONEST
Test
Answer-------------TRUST
Amount-------------------$70.00
We wait to receive
the western union payment information today.
Please if you are not the real
beneficiary don't respond to this message.
Yours in
service
Barr Eddy
Benson
Federal Republic of
Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
