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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:
- 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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- +447045730051 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: OFFICE FILE <officefila02@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: shipmentagentt2@hosanna.net
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 04:26:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: I just arrived Heathrow International Airport UK.
Attn:Dear.
I’m diplomat Ken C Smith; I have been trying to reachyou on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about mysuccessful arrival in Heathrow International Airport UK with your twoboxes of consignment worth $1.5Musd which I have been instructed byECOWAS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you.
TheAirport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to proveto them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, Ihave presented the papers I handed to them and they are very muchpleased with the paper’s I presented, but the only thing that is stillkeeping me here is the airport delivery Yellow Tag which is not placedon the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advised that we get thedelivery Yellow tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and makemy delivery successful to you.
I try to reason with them and they statedthe delivery Yellow tag will cost us just $135 Dollars only to get thetwo tag placed on the boxes as that tag will enable me get to yourhouse successfully without any interference, they scanned the boxes andfound out that the fund is 100 % spend able and accepted by any bank inthe whole world.
Please try and reach me with my internationalroaming number(+44704 5730 051) as I can not afford to spend more timehere due to other delivery I have to take care of in Bangkok. I willprovid you the papers backing the funds together with my ID CARD as Ican accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fundsuccessfully with these papers. I have more vital paper with me but Ican only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it’sthe diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
You candirect the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for youand they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreigncountries authority. get back to me in my private email;(shipmentagentt2@hosanna.net)
Send the $135 through western union money transfer with this informations below.
Receiver ..... Nwade Joseph Chinedu
Country .....Benin Republic.
Amount ....$135 US Dollars
Text Question.... What Colour?
Answer ….Green.
Send the payment informations such as the MTCN and the senders name once you make the payment.
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Anti-fraud resources:
