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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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "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: Dr MARK BUDDY <officeinfo760@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Dr MARK BUDDY <ldh367@yahoo.co.za>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:23:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: UBA BANK department Benin Republic
I will first of all introduced myself to you before other
things my Name is Dr.Mike BUDDY the Director of The
UBA BANK department Benin Republic in West Africa so my word is my word
and I am a Man of his word Honest therefore as far as I said
yes that you will receive your COMPENSATION committee through the
help of this UBA BANK department you must receive your ATM CARD as I am
a man of his word so don’t worry about because I will do every
possible best to make sure that your ATM CARD will reached to
you as soon as you followed my instruction today,
We are the UBA BANK department Benin Republic have received your
message concerning the Issue of your ATM CARD which was call back
to be delivery to you because of lack of documentations and now I
receive your mail that you need our help to receive your
ATM CARD through DHL department so we are also very happy as you
need our help and we are here today been 21th of OCTOBER 2015
that through the help of this UBA BANK department you must receive
your CARD through that DHL delivery,
Now the only fee that is needed before the delivery will be
Processed the delivery today is only the fee
which will cost you sum of $68 Dollar Only and
that is only fee you will send and nothing more again to send
so you can copy this payment information and get the required
fee of $68 Dollar Only send it immediately then get back and have the your
delivery Processed into your home address, So that once you receive
your ATM CARD you will start making use of it immediately,
Thank you very much for your understanding and bellow is the
information to be used in sending the required fee today through
WESTERN UNION ONLY,OR MONEY GRAM
Receiver name: OBUMU KEN
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Amount:$68
Text Question: Trust?
Answer:? Honest
MTCN: .......
Sender's name: .........
CONTACT PERSON:
Dr.Mike BUDDY
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Anti-fraud resources:
