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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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: "Dr. Tony Frank" <kimudaiti@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Tony Frank" <fmf201441@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2014 00:25:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: This payment was Mandated by the IMF
OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
COTONOU REPUBLIC DU BENIN .
COMMISSIONER OF ROYAL EXCISE
Financial Authority Unit
22 Bombay Road
Attention My dear
This is to inform you that your compensation funds of $3.8m credited in the
file (#TSB/2013/BXGP/DBN),has been approved to be Paying to you by
Western union Money Transfer at the rate of $11,000, $5,500.00 everyday in each
Transaction until you received your complete compensation fund above.
This payment was Mandated by the IMF in conjunction with the Federal
Ministry Of Finance Republic Du Benin after the meeting held on October 29th
2014 as all the Delivery company and money gram transfer has been failed.
Now contact the office, federal ministry of finance In charge of your fund, Dr.
John Duke the Director and ask them to renew your payment file and start
Sending your money to you or you ask him to load your total amount in to
ATM MASTER CARD depends on your personal choice.
Below is the contact info of the ministry of finance.
Contact Person; Dr. John Duke
You have to contact them now with your personal information as follows;
1) FULL NAME :
(2) ADDRESS:
(3) COUNTRY :
(4) PRIVATE TEL:
(5) MOBILE PHONE
(6) PRIVATE EMAIL:
(7)YOUR FILE NO;
Yours faithfully.
Dr. Tony Frank
For
DIRECTOR MINISTRY OF FINANCE
FOREIGN PAYMENT OPERATIVE MANAGER
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Anti-fraud resources:
