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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "moneygrampaycentre@live.com" <revmichael---02@att.net>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:38:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD NEWS DEAR.
GOOD NEWS DEAR. BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR Atm Visa CARD PAYMENT VALUE OF $2.500,000.00 WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF FIRST FINANCIAL BANK PLC MONEY GRAM DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR PAY SINCE YOU WAS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE YOUR ATM VARD. THE AGREEMENT IS TO PAY YOU THROUGH OUR MONEY GRAM DATABASE, THIS WILL ENABLE YOU RECEIVE $5,500.00USD DAILY. THE SAID AMOUNT WILL BE PROGRAMMED IN YOUR NAME IN MONEY GRAM DATABASE, THAT WILL ONLY COST YOU $75.00.USD ATTVATE AND YOUR MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP IN YOUR LOCALITY. YOU ADVISED TO CONTACT FIRST FINACIAL BANK PLC FOR YOUR PAYMENT ON THE ADDRESS: E-MAIL ( moneygrampaycentre@live.com )
TELL PHONE: +229-97905798
CONTACT PERSON:MRS.ANITA FRANK
SEND TO HER YOUR RECEIVER NAME............................
YOUR ADDRESS................................................................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER...........................................YOUR COUNTRY..............................................
THANK YOU.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
REV. MICHEAL LUIS
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Anti-fraud resources:
