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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- 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.
- post1369@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Christ Ubah" <cunitedstate@gmail.com>
Reply-To: post1369@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:39:58 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Contact D.H.L Courier Service with this Shipment Code: NET/00987-887641
Dear Beneficiary:
Due to bad network we are having here in Africa we could not be able to complete your transfer through Bank Online Transfer as programmed. Our network here will not carry on the programming, so we decided to use ATM MASTER CARD method to finalize the transaction. We have programmed an ATM MASTER CARD with your name and uploaded your total fund of (US$2.500.000.00) Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars) in the Card so that you will be withdrawing it in any ATM MACHINE The ATM MASTER CARD works worldwide and the daily amount according to our programming system is (US$15.000.00) Fifteen Thousand Dollars Daily.
Contact person Mr. Frank Jim, I have made the delivery arrangement with D.H.L DELIVERY COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC that will carry on the delivery to your given address and the Director told me that Delivery Cost of the ATM MASTER CARD to your house is (US$98).He assured me that their Company takes good 4-days to complete any delivery registered with accurate address. So you are advised to send the delivery charge of the ATM CARD with your full address such as:
Full Name: _________
Home Address: _____
Country: ___________
State: _____________
City: _____________
Zip code: ___________
Telephone Number: ___
Occupation___________
Send the Delivery charge of your ATM MASTER CARD through Western Union
Money Transfer to the following name:
Receiver Name: Udezue Joseph
Country: Republic OF Benin
City: Cotonou
Test Question: In God
Test Answer: We Trust.
Amount: US$98.00
MTCN#
SENDER'S NAME:
Please your urgent reply will be appreciated for immediate registering of your ATM CARD. Contact us
E-mail post1369@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone# +229-98892244
Best Regards
Mr. Christ Ubah.
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