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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. )
- "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. )
- "storage fee" (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. )
- 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.
- chicagocustoms.storage30@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Robert William" <federalbureauofivesttigationfbi@ozchat.org>
Reply-To: <chicagocustoms.storage30@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:08:50 +0000
Subject: Attention; Final Notice of Your Package With Reg #: SA335493RDK.
Cargo Unit, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA)Orlando International AirportOne Jeff Fuqua BlvdOrlando,
Florida 3227-4399Email:chicagocustoms.storage30@gmail.com
Attention; Final Notice of Your Package With Reg #: SA335493RDK. In view of your inability to receive your package reg #: SA335493RDK
originally scheduled to be delivered to you by the agency Foreign payment service New York. The
package in a golden metal box valued 5,316,000USD (Five Million, Three
Hundred and Sixteen thousand United states dollars) arrived at Chicago
international airport via British airways flight no.BA592 from London UK
sometime ago. The agency Foreign Payment service New York staff came
and applied for the release of this package for delivery to your address
but has since not shown up again.It
has been a month now and no response yet from him either both of you.
The airport Chicago authorities charged you $125.00 for the storage fee.
I am hereby writing to inform you that the days of grace has expired
and we shall begin to charge a storage fee.
Here is the information to send the $125.00 storage fee using western union or money gram.Receiver Name:.. OJO CLEMENTPayout Destination:..Lagos-NigeriaTest Question:... TrustAnswer:..
HonestAmount:..$125.00 USDSender name:...MTCN:.....Note
that this notice serves as our last recovery notice to you as our
department will be compelled to list your package as an unclaimed and
maybe forfeited. Best regards,Mr. Robert William
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Anti-fraud resources:
