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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. )
- "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 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: MRS TINA MORE <officefile870@gmail.com>
Reply-To: MRS TINA MORE <westnnion_13@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:00:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION
I am Mrs tina more from Ministry Of Finance Cotonou (Head
office). This is to bring to you notice that after the conference
meeting we had, The Government of this country realized that you
are among those that involved in scam victim we have in our list to
Compensate by the government of this country as instructions from
United Nation(UN).The Governor of this state Cotonou Benin
Republic has instructed this office to forward your file to
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER DEPARTMENT to pay
you the sum of US$1.2000.00 through WESTERN UNION.
His Excellence the GOVERNOR has instructed the WESTERN
payment department DR. patrick uno to send the sum of
US$1.2000.00 through his custody for easy receiver of your funds.
You are to contact them now to ensure that your fund will be
transferring to you once you send them the needed information to
avoid wrong transaction.According to the demands of WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER you are to receive your fund at the
installment rate of $5,000.00 daily until the US$1.2000.00 is
completely transferred to you accordingly. You are to contact them
now with the bellow information to avoid wrong
transaction.
Reconfirm your address
(1)Your Full name:.......................
(2)Your Phone number:................
(3)Your Contact address:.................
(4)Your Age:.............................
Listen very carefully, tell DR. Patrick uno that you advise to contact
him by Mrs. Tina More. from Ministry Of Finance here in Cotonou
Benin ;Bellow is their Contact Information.
Contact with this information below:
CONTACT PERSON: DR. patrick uno
Phone Number: +229 99774616
Address: 12 Avenue Island streets, Cotonou, Benin Republic
Please, do not forget to update me as soon as you receive your
first payment.
Best regards.
mrs tina more
F.A in Ministry of Finance
Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
