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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. )
- "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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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: Atm Department Plc <office--consult201@att.net>
Reply-To: atmdepartment.plc@tlen.pl
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 04:48:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Your Security Code Number (4008AC56)
ATM DEPARTMENT BENIN
Rue 105
ONICONI Way,Cotonou Bureau Office Republic of Benin.
ATTN : Dear Valued Customer,
We receive your mail with your information and we want to
inform you that we have your ATM Card registered to this office for delivery by
the Zenith bank manager Prof.Martins kan, So the management of this Office
hereby acknowledged the existence of a ATM Card worth $800.000.00USD with the
Security Code Number (4008AC56) as your are the beneficiary of the ATM
Card.
This office is therefore Mandated to have your ATM card shipped to
you via the courier delivery company as a recognize and approved courier to
delivery your ATM card to you safely once that you pay to us the processing fees
$55. I hereby inform you to use the information of the ATM card officer sated
below to send the fee down to us and as soon as the fee is confirmed in this
office, we will have your ATM card registered with the courier company for the
shipment to your address immediately.
Here is the information you will use to send us the fee Via
Western Union Money gram with below.
Receiver Name.......Mbanefo P.
Austine
Country..................BeninRepublic
City.......................
Cotonou
Text
Question..........God
Answer.....................First
Do forward the
payment information to me as soon as you send the processing fee of your
atm
Management,
Mr.Chukwu Mike
DIRECTOR INCHARGES OF
ATM
DEPARTMENT BENIN.
+22998425479
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Anti-fraud resources:
