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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- jimken19@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Robert Pikus" <odee_ikwunne002@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 11:08:29 +0100 (BST)
Subject: GOOD NOW THSE SCAMMER HAS ARRTEST TODAY
 Hello
My name is Rev Ken Jim  from TNT Benin Republic am here to inform you
that we are holding these Scammer who come to thief you FUND from our office yes
day night and them told us that you the one sent them to come and claim you fund
and the total amount in you fund is ($900.000.00) Nine hundred thousand
united state dollars, and I will like you to do as much as you can and get back
to me once you received my mail because them want to pay for the IRS permit claim fund but we still
hold them until we here from you so get back urgent to avid giving you fund to
them and you lose all
okay,
Â
Now true if delaying to get back to us you will lose
you fund because i will release you fund to them /but understand that since am
here nothing will happy to you fund if want to received it and right now know
what to do and send us $82 dollar for the IRS permit because if know pay
for the IRS permit we can release you fund to them because them want to pay but
we said know so please get back to us with the payment of $82 dollar only
immediately you received this mail because there is know time again if delaying
you lose you fund which I know want you to lose /so now am waiting for the
payment and send it with this
information,
Â
RECEIVER NAME--MR…MR MRÂ
AMEKE MICHAELÂ
COUNTRY----BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY-----COTONOU
MTCN----
QUESTION--god
ANSWER---is
good
SENDERS
NAME-----
Â
waiting to here from you and see these scammer P okay
 contact Rev Ken Jim
withthise
mail;(jimken19@yahoo.com
)
+229
93185796
Â
Â
SEE THESE SCAMMERS
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Anti-fraud resources:
