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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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- minstryoffinance22@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr James Larry <presidentialhouse@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: minstryoffinance22@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2012 15:54:33 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: THIS MASSAGE IS FROM FEDERAL MINSTRY OF FINANCE BENIN REPUBLIC BONUS DAY .
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THIS MASSAGE IS FROM FEDERAL MINSTRY OF FINANCEÂ Â Â BENINÂ Â REPUBLIC BONUS DAY .
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I want to let you know that WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC have reported you in our office this Morning about your FUND in there office Due to you refuse to send they transfer fee,
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 Now we decided to release your payment from our office to avoid any problem with western union again,
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Because the Federal government of this Country have decided to give BONUS to those that have payment in WESTERN UNION office To avoid more problem Again,
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Because we find out that you find it so had to raise the transfer fee we now decided to help you out with some money to enable you get your Fund because I will not be happy if you loose your fund just because of $55.
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So I want you to try your possible best and get the money today as soon as you received this email to enable us start releasing your payment without any more delay ok Â
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 Please do contact us with this email (minstryoffinance22@yahoo.com )the reason why need this money from you is to use it to renew your payment file from Benin High Court because your payment file is expired so we need to renew it before any thing can be done .
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so try your possible best and send the renewing fee .the amount you will be receiving per day is $4000.000 till you received all total amount of $1.2 million . You are to be receiving payment through Money Gram Office not Western union because I don’t want you to have another problem with western union again.
Receiver Name:... Mr SAM CHIKA
Location: ... Cotonou ,
Country: ... Benin Republic
Text Q: ....How much?
Answer:::::....$55
MTCN::::
Amount:::::.$55
Send us your information were your Fund can be sent to you such as your Receiver Name Your Full Name.......
Your Country........
Your City............
You’re Telephone Number.........
The Amount You Lost..........
Your Passport..........................
Your Age................................
Thanks you as we are waiting to hear from you or call us with this number +22998812427
Regards,
Mr BENÂ UGO
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Anti-fraud resources:
