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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "moneygrampaymentcenter@e-mail.ua" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Lauren Cale <mrslaurencale@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 18:39:48 +0100
Subject: MONEY GRAM ALERT
Attn:
Sir/Madam I wish to acknowledge and notify you that the sent $5,000
dollars is on hold because of the instruction from IMF office, they
asked us to place it on hold by requesting the (Tax Record
Certificate) in order to fulfill all the necessary obligation to avoid
any hitches while sending you the total payment of $1.8m through MONEY
GRAM transfer, the necessary obligation i mean here, is to obtain the
(Tax Record Certificate).
Please be 100% guarantee that your MONEY GRAM clearance will be issued
to you today once you are able to send the fee of $175 dollars via
MONEY GRAM and your first payment will as well be release to you today
once the document is secured.
Below are the details to send the Fee;
Receiver’s Name; Mr.Chinhoun .Kossi. Arince
Location; Benin
Text Question; Lord
Text Answer; Is Good
YOURS IN SERVICE,
Email ;( info@moneygram.de.be) OR (moneygrampaymentcenter@e-mail.ua)
Tel;+229-96467333
Thanks
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