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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- 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.
- elizabeth_benin@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Elizabeth Benin <mrsted_9@msn.com>
Reply-To: <elizabeth_benin@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2012 19:41:21 +0000
Subject: Attention: Lucky Beneficiary
Attention: Lucky Beneficiary
You are entitled to receive a total
sum of (3.2 Million Dollars)Three Million Two Hundred Thousand united
state dollars, which has been succesfully deposited at the Western Union
Payment Center, Benin Republic
by the Ministry of Finance Benin Republic. The Management of the
Western Union Payment Center,Benin has designated that the amount be
remitted to you via Debit ATM Visa card which you will use in
withdrawing your funds from any Atm machine in any part of the world and
the maximum withdrawal is ten thousand per day (10,000.00).
So
respond urgently to this email and send your information’s to the ATM
department as listed below. so that DHL Courier delivery company will
deliver your ATM CARD to you. in Good five Banking working days you will
receive your ATM CARD at your door step, send your reponse to this
email address: elizabeth_benin@yahoo.co.jp
1. Full Names...................
2. Telephone/home and cell ..............
3. Your mailing address....................
4. Age.......................
5. Occupation....................
6. Sex.............
7. post cold...................
8. Country......................
A Copy of your identification::
Thanks
Best Regards
Mrs Elizabeth Benin,
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Anti-fraud resources:
