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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "clearance 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. )
- "million 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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- 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.
- presidentgoodluck009@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: MR. PRESIDENT GOOD LUCK JONATHAN <barrmaryhil47@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: presidentgoodluck009@rocketmail.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:37:51 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!
CALL ME IMMEDIATELY DON'T DELAY,
The new President of Nigeria MR. GOOD LUCK JONATHAN
TEL: +234-8136-118-646
We the federal governing bank of federation reached and agreement with the federal executive council RESERVE BOARD and the senate to use the federal reserve account to settle all our old contractor in Nigeria.
My beloved one since we have arranged your payment of $10.500.00 million Dollars for your compensation through our swift card payment center Asia pacific, that is the latest instruction from the out standing payment committee and i.
This card center has already send you your ATM Master card since, which you will use to withdraw all your money in any ATM machine and in any part of the world so you are advise to reconfirm your current information's below immediately without wasting of time because delay is very dangerous.
1. Full name
2. Addresses were you want us to deliver the ATM master card
3. Phone number
4. Your ID Card
This is your tracking notification.
website: WWW.ups.com
Tracking Number: 1ZA67T571304485982
Note the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stopped her at Airport not to deliver your ATM MASTER CARD to you because of the clearance fee of $1000 they are demanding from you as a rightful beneficiary of this package and also the Hugh amount of money you want to receive.
Send the clearance fee with this name through western union for easy confirmation and easy pickup by me.
Receiver’s Name------SAMPSON OBINNA.
Receiver’s Address----Lagos/Nigeria
Test Question------In God
Test Answer-----We Trust
Amount $1000 only
MTCN#----------
Email me the Western Union MTCN Number with the senders names OK------------------
Get back to me immediately.
Looking forward to serving you better and remain bless,
Regards,
MR. GOOD LUCK JONATHAN CODE (IN GOD WE TRUST)
TEL: +234-8136-118-646
make sure that you call me immediately.
Email:presidentgoodluck009@rocketmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
