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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Roseing John" <godwinnwakasi_1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernuionbous@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:06:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject:
GOOD DAY AM HERE TO TELLING YOU THAT I HAVE MAKE THREE PAYMENT TO YOU NAME TODAY AND I WANT YOU TO BE FAST AND PICK THIS PAYMENT TO AVOD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT UNDERSTAND THE PAYMENT MADE WITH YOU NAME BUT BEFORE YOU CAN PICK THIS THREE PAYMENT YOU HAVE TO SEND US THE TRANSFER FEE WHICH IS $40 DOLLAR ONLY AND AND FAST TO SEND THE TRANSFER FEE ONCE YOU RECEIVED THIS MAIL BECAUSE THAT IS HOLDING YOU TO PICK THE THREE PAYMENT TODAY,THE TRUE ON IT NOW IS TO MAKE SURE YOU PICK UP THE THREE PAYMENT TODAY TO AVOD ANTHER MAN PICK IT OK
HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THESFER FEE?
Receiver name =CHUKWUMA EMMANUEL
City==COTONOU
Country== BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question==WHO WE TRUST
Test Answer==GOD
AMOUNT:...............$40, USD
FIRST PAYMENT IS THIS
WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
SENDER NAME AVID ASSELSTINE
MTCN NUMBER: 2114-466-505
QUESTION====WHEN?
TEST ANSWER===IFEANYI
AMOUNT====$3000.00
TOW PAYMENT IS THIS
WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
SENDER NAMEAVID ASSELSTINE
MTCN NUMBER: 5114-466-501
QUESTION====WHEN?
TEST ANSWER===TODAY
AMOUNT====$3000.00
THREE PAYMENT IS THIS
WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM
SENDER NAMEAVID ASSELSTINE
MTCN NUMBER: 2114-436-504
QUESTION====WHEN ?
TEST ANSWER===TODAY
AMOUNT====$3000.00
AM WAITING FOR YOU TO PICK UP THE PAYMENT,
MR GODWIN NWAKASI
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Anti-fraud resources:
