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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- westernunion555@ig.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr John Paul" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion555@ig.com.br>
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 02:02:01 -0700
Subject: Good Day
Good Day
Please we need your current home address and telephone number.. to
able us start sending your US$4.5m to you as we were instructed by IMF
to be sending you $6000.00 each day till the whole amount USD$4.5M but
you can send only $95 for transfer charge to starting pick up day $6000,00 is
located to you,
Use this information to send the $95 right now
information and your address
Receiver:OfO MIKE
Country:Benin Republic
City :Cotonou
Text :A Answer:B
Amount:$95 Sender.. MTCN...
Your Name... Address Telephone number... Country..
Call us +229 6814-6604 Immediately you receive this Email
Or contact (westernunion555@ig.com.br)
Barr John Paul
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Anti-fraud resources:
