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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "u.bank2015@yandex.com" (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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: GENERAL PAUL ADMAS <internationaldiplomat700@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: GENERAL PAUL ADMAS <u.bank2015@yandex.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2015 21:59:47 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attenetion: Beneficiray,
Attenetion: Beneficiray,  Good day to you my dear friend, may theGod almighty father bless you for all your effort and prayer concerning me. Ijust returned from hospital yesterday. Through I was not too well but I have toRequest for a discharge as I know thatGod almighty father will heal the rest but my aim is to be able to communicatewith you. I am pleading to you in the name of Godbecause it has been a while now that we did not communicate any more. I hopethings is moving normal, however i decide to write you and verify if you haveraise the needed fee which I told you to pay before Left to hospital so that wecan complete the assignment we have at hand. Now let me know. How you raise themoney. If yes please get back to me now with western union payment information’sso that my effort will been completed. I tried to call you during my stay inhospital but i can see that your phone is having a problem. Please if you areyou still willing to receive your ATM CARD, just let me know immediately sothat I will knowThat my dream is still alive. The needed amount is $162.00 but iadvise you to send $62.00 now then return the balance of $100.00 after youreceive the ATM CARD because I want you to send the $62.00 immediately youreceive this mail so that I will register the ATM CARD for immediate deliveryand also give you D.H.L tracking number to enable monitor the ATM CARD and knowthe time it will arrive in your home address for you to receive it. I swear to God almighty father that$62.00 is only money that you have to send until you receive the ATM CARD atyour hand before you can pay the balance of $100.00 but please don't delay bysending theMoney today or tomorrow because the ATMCARD will leave this country at least Thursday to your state. Here is the information’sto send the money through western union or money gram below: 1.RECEIVER NAME=======JIM UDO2.COUNTRY=======BENINREPUBLIC / CITY_ COTONOU3.QUESTION===========HOWLONG4.ANSWER============TWO DAYS5.AMOUNT============US$62.00 As soon as you make the payment pleasesend an email with western union payment information’s so that we can pick upthe money immediately and register the ATM CARD for immediate deliver to yourcountry. Be rest assured that $62.00 is for registrationfee and is only money that you have to pay as for now until you receive the ATMCARD then you can return the balance of $100.00 okey.now you can go ahead andmake the payment immediately through western union or money gram. I am looking forward to hear from youonce again with western union payment information’s if you are the real personbut if not you, please don't contact back.   below the email address:( u.bank2015@yandex.com)Please be a honest person to me because I have already swear to God with mylife to show you that I will not lie to you until you receive your ATM CARD.May the God almighty father Bless you.DIRECTOR GENERAL PAUL ADMASSEND THE MONEY TODAY PHONE NUMBER +229 97879992Â
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Anti-fraud resources:
