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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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Peter <bkgroupe@cantv.net>
Reply-To: peter15@barid.com
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 19:40:55 -0430 (VET)
Subject: Hello My Good Friend.I have left a certified ATM VISA CARD for you
contact Dr Peter Mark to deliver your card.
Hello My Good Friend.I have left a certified ATM VISA CARD for you contact Dr Peter Mark to deliver your card.
How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family?,I am using this opportunity to inform you that
your ATM visa card that worth of 1,500,000.00 cash able anywhere in the world. was given to me by Dr Peter Mark
to help all those that has lost money in AFRICA,for the collection of your ATM VISA CARD.note that you have to pay
you DHL Dilveyer fee that is only about 98$ so send the fee with the follwing informations below
so that you can get you card in about 2working days send it through Western Union Money Transfer today with the name of my secretary as stated below:
Receiver's Name: LUIS CHIMA
Receiver's City:Cotonou
Receiver's Country: Republic of Benin
Text Question: IN GOD
Text Answer: TRUST
MTCN No:..................................................
she authorized to be release the ATM VISA CARD to you whenever you are to CONTACT my Accounting officers Dr Peter
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