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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.
- 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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- tnt_group83@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Tnt Courier Service <eco.bank288@superposta.com>
Reply-To: tnt_group83@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:17:47 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: GOOD DAY MY GOOD FRIEND,
Good Day My Good Friend,
This T.N.T Courier Company writes to inform you that our special diplomatic agent will have to leave this country to your base fisting tomorrow morning. Like I told you before that this imposter Mr. Gomez Williams and David James whom has been arrested last 2days ago will serve the jail«SIX YEARS IN PRISINMENT» While you the rightful beneficiary will pay the cost of US$29.00 only for the security keeping fee of your consignment box. That was the normal procedure with section 1987 section A 114 act as adopted in 1995, and amended on 2nD June 1996 by the constitutional assembly.
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So I am waiting to receive your security keeping fee today because our special diplomatic agent will have to leave this country to your base fisting tomorrow morning. This consignment box will arrive within 2 days on a transit. So dear you have to act fast today to affect immediate delivery of your consignment box. If you have more questions, please kindly call me @+22966289330
With the full assurance that the delivery of your fund must be commenced to your destination as soon as you send out the required fee today. You are advised to send out the required US$29.00 today through western union transfer and get back to me with the payment info’s/details such as the MTCN# and sender's name, this is to effect immediate attention and deliver your fund immediately because we don't want any kind of delaying.
You are instructed to use the bellow information to send out the required fee through western union transfer to our cashier.
==================================
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Receiver’s Name is:====Mr Okonkwo chukwuebuka
Country: ====Benin Republic
City:==== Cotonou
Test question is:==== How long
Answer is:==== 1 hour
Amount: ====$29.00 only
Then get back to me with the MTCN:........? and sender's name:..........?
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We so much appreciate your urgent respond on this matter and try to complete your responsibility as you have been instructed above in other to claim your fund here in our custody.
Â
TNT Worldwide Express
TNT COURIER SERVICE
COTONOU /BENIN REPUBLIC.
BRANCH CODE:T:TNT/114.0711.
Email:(tnt_group83@yahoo.com.ph)
TELL:(+22966289330)
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Anti-fraud resources:
