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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. )
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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.
- 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.
- solomon.william@mail.com (Mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mmorba Ignatius" <joshpchinaka32@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Mmorba Ignatius" <solomon.william@mail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 14:06:21 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: =?UTF-8?Q?(I.M.F)_YOUR_TRANSFER_NOTIFICATION=E2=80=8F?=
(INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS DEPARTMENTS)
                                             BENIN REPUBLIC
                               ADDRESS; No. 208B PETECH AVENUE
                                                        COTONOU
                                 REPUBLIC OF BENIN
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:
This is to inform you that the I.M.F executive members held a meeting yesterday with the ECO BANK DEPARTMENT based on your funds $10.5 Million US Dollars which was approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be transferred to you and it has not yet been transferred to you. So we conclude that these funds should be transferred to you daily via Western Union Money Transfer which you will be receiving $6000 per day until the total amount of funds is been paid to you.
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Meanwhile we have taken out our proper actions/duties concerning on any foreign transfers which have not been done in this country to be done with immediate effect.
So therefore the Western Union Head Office had agreed with the I.M.F that your funds will be paid to you without any more delay. Please fill in the transfer form below and forward to them which will enable on the transfer.
1. NAME OF RECEIVER
2. COUNTRY
3. STATE
4. CITY
5. YOUR HOME ADDRESS
6. TEXT QUESTION
7. TEXT ANSWER
Send this informations to them which will enable them in transferring the funds to you.
Here is their contact address.
Mrs. Mmorba Ignatius
E-mail: solomon.william@mail.com
Tell: (+229)681 -476-32
Finally make sure you notify us back once they transfer the funds to you.
Best regards
Hon. solomon.william.
Managing Director (I.M.F)
Cotonou- Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
