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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- 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. )
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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: Money Gram Transfer <moneygramremittance7575@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Money Gram Transfer <moneygramremittance@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2015 23:38:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: May I Have Your Attention, Please?
Attn Bebeficiary,
I write in respect of your Overdue Funds which we recovered your FILE in our office last week since the old management of this company was failed to complete your transaction. However my name is Mr. Edward John and I was appointed as the new General Manager Money Gram Legal Affairs Cotonou-Benin Republic.
Therefore I wish to inform you about this new development in regards to your Unclaimed funds which was abandoned in this our office moreover through our verification we have noticed that the old management was demanded the sum of US$400.00 from you long time ago for getting the Diplomatic Immunity Seal Of Transfer DIST in other to commence with your payment but you did not meet up with the demand than.
Meanwhile after our Board of Directors meeting this morning with Ministry of Finance we have concluded that 80% of the fee demanded by the old management will be waved and you will now pay just 20% which is US$80.00 in other ensure that any funds owned to foreign beneficiaries were transferred before the year end.
Hence this management is concerned we have agreed with Ministry of Finance to offer you this Special BONUS in other to help you receive your funds in our office as we have now concluded that you will pay just 20% percent of the fee which is US$80.00 and we will official secure the DIST RE-ACTIVATE your FILE and start your payment.
Besides we want you to understand that this is the last chance for you to receive your payment from our office this year therefore I advise you should hurry up send the fee today so that we will secure the Diplomatic Immunity Seal of Transfer DIST RE-NEW your FILE and commence with your transaction as agreed with Ministry of Finance.
NOTE: Based on our official arrangement you will be receiving US$9,000.00 on a daily basis until your total Funds of US$850,000.00 is completely transferred and note your daily payment of US$9,000.00 will be split into Two REF/MTCN Number and each REF Number will valued US$4,500.00.Â
Therefore below is the information for you to send the fee through our service Money Gram OR Western Union:
RECEIVER NAME: ====== MICHAEL ANANTI
COUNTRY: ====== BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: ======= COTONOU
SECRET QUESTION: ==== COLOR
ANSWER: Â ====== WHITE
AMOUNT: ===== US$80
KINDLY FORWARD THE BELOW DETAILS TO US ONCE YOU SEND THE PAYMENT.
MTCN / Ref Number
Senders Name
Sender’s Full address
NOTE: You must comply with this offer within 72 hours 3 working days if you real wish to receive you funds from our office and note if you fail to comply with three days your FILE will be returned to Ministry of Finance and your funds will be confiscated.
We are waiting for your immediate actions over this matter.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Edward John
+229 9673 1025
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