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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:
- "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. )
- "money order " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: Freddie Ramirez <delmywd@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Freddieetg@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 05:44:11 -0500
Subject: ROOM ENQUIRY!!!
Hello,
I'm Freddie Ramirez and would like to get your place for my daughter (
Stephanie ) who is coming to continue her educational career. I'm a dealer
in all forms of cars either used, new or refurbish and my wife is a
temporal nurse in the community hospital. My daughter just finished her
course in Banking and Finance with the last Greenwich Session and would
like to secure her Master degree. She's a very nice lady and from a very
good and devoted home so you don't have to be worried about her behavior. I
would like to know if the environment is serene and secured enough for a
lady of her age (22) as far as security is concerned. I also would like you
to get back to me with the last move Inn price so that we both can further
on how i can get the deposit forwarded to you.
I intend to forward the payment via a Certified Cashier Check or Money
Order which will be issued out by my business associate. He is owing me
some funds and would like to use the opportunity to clear up my daughter's
bill. The payment will be made as soon as i have your information on how i
can get the payment get to you and you deposit it into your bank for
clearance, I'm giving you a $50 bonus for the running around. You will need
to send the remaining balance to my Traveling Agent after you might have
deducted your money, the $50 bonus and Money Gram Charges you will be
charged while sending the money to him. I would want you to get back to me
with the following information's so that the payment can be issued and send
to you ASAP.
Full Name:
Address: ( No Po Box )
State,City and Zip code:
Home & Cell Phone #: ( No Voice Mail Number please )
Last move Inn Cost for the Room :
Hope to read from you soon, My daughter would be on her way to your
location once you have the payment in your control okay . My Phone # is
801-447-2701
Thank You And God Bless You.
Freddie Ramirez
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Anti-fraud resources:
