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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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "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)
- "mrs.rosecarrel@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS.ROSE CARREL" <file---update11000@att.net>
Reply-To: mrs.rosecarrel@w.cn
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 01:50:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PLEASE TRUST MRS. ROSE CARREL FOR DELIVERY
GOOD DAY!!!
PLEASE TRUST MRS. ROSE CARREL FOR DELIVERY
I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE PAID THE FEE DUE TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE WESTERN UNION OFFICE HAS DECIDED TO DIVERT AND FORFEITED THE $1.5MILLION, INTO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT) I DON'T WANT ALL YOUR EFFORT YOU PUT IN THIS TRANSACTION TO GOES IN VAIN, BECAUSE OF IT I DECIDED TO HELP YOU PAY THE MONEY SO THAT THE $1.5MILLION, WILL BE DELIVER TO YOU WITHIN 24HOURS.
I KNOW THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU GET THE $1.5MILLION DEFINITELY YOU MUST PAY ME BACK MY MONEY AND EVEN COMPENSATE ME FOR HELPING YOU IN THIS MATTER. LIKE I STATED EARLIER, I HAVE PAID THE CHARGES BUT I DID NOT PAY THEIR OFFICIAL KEEPING FEES $67 SINCE THEY REFUSED ME DUE TO THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE YOU TO COMPLY WITH THEM, SO NOW I WILL ADVISED YOU TO PAY THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE $67 TO RECEIVE THE $1.5MILLION WITHOUT ANY DELAYING AGAIN, SO PLEASE MY DEAR IMMEDIATELY SENDING THIS FEE TRY SEND IT THROUGH EMAIL:mrs.rosecarrel@w.cn OR CALL MRS.ROSE CARREL WITH THIS NUMBER +22998395968 OK
HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO USE AND SEND THE MONEY OK.
RECEIVER NAME....MR SUM CHIKA
COUNTRY CITY.....COTONOU
COUNTRY..........BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION.... TODAY
TEST ANSWER.......TODAY
AMOUNT............$67US ONLY
SENDER NAME......?
MTCN NUMBER.......?
I AM STILL WAITING FOR YOUR PAYMENT ON SECURITY KEEPING FEE $67 ONLY
THANKS
TEL +22998395968
MRS.ROSE CARREL
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