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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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- 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: "Power" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmofficeauthoriza@foxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 09:40:37 -0500
Subject: Power Of Attorney!!!!!!
Dear Customer,
We received an email from one Mr.Williams Paul who presented a telephone number with a resident address,saying that you gave him the power of attorney to claims your ATM Card deposited in your names.
Please try and get back to us immediately before we instruct him to pay for the required charges Of $75 and have the ATM Card deliverred to him.
Below is the information he sent to us.
Williams Paul
Street 250 Marriott Driv
City: Tallahassee
State:Florida
Zip: 32301
313) 427-2635
YOU ADVICE TO SEND THE FEE THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEYGRAM OUR ATTONEY ACCOUNT INFORMATION BELOW.
Reciver's Name: Princel Uramaka
City-------- Cotonou
Country----- Benin-Republic
Test Question------- when?
Answer------- now.
AMOUNT-------$75.00
As soon as you send the fee kindly forward the payment information to us so that we can pick up the fee and we
shall proceed on for the delivery of your package and the tracking number will be forwarded to you so that you can be able to track your package and know when your package has arrive in your country Okay.
THANKS
Jerry Cook
Email: officefile@gogo.mn
Tel: +229 99922562
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Anti-fraud resources:
