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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "diplomatic delivery" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.
- ofile811@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mr smith jack <couhl002.@gmail.com>
Reply-To: coudhl004@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2016 20:16:48 +0900 (JST)
Subject: My Dear after meeting yesterday in london IMF told us to start a
bonus for the new year
ATTENTION YOUR IMMENSE BENEFITS!!!
My Dear after meeting yesterday in london IMF told us to start a
bonus for the new year IMF ask us to collect only $70usd for the
delivering of your atm master card.
you know that delivering fee was $150 last year.due to new year bonus
you are ask to pay only $70usd My Dear as you can see God has don it
for you. please don,t delay kindly
go a head and send the $70usd now for delivering of your atm master
card.
The total amount you have is $1.250 Million USA Dollars. Here is the
informations to send the fee through money Gram
below:
Receiver name; Alexander Emeka Onuorah
Country; Benin Republic
City; Cotonou
Text question; Sent
Answer; Yes
Amount; $70
Sender?s name;
MTCN;
I am looking forward to hear from you right way because i hate any
thing promise and fail, you can contact us with this email ofile811@gmail.com
I swear to God almighty Father. If I fail to delivery your atm master card
within 24hours after you send the $70.00 as I promise you that you
once you send it i WILL FORWARD YOU TRACKING NUMBER OF YOUR ATM MASTER
CARD.
Beneficiary information
PAYMENT DETAILS TO SEND TO US
Money transfer control number (MTCN) Senders Name Senders address.
MODE OF DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY.
As soon as we Recieve the delivering fee, Our international Diplomat
agent will depart benin with your CONSIGNMENT BOX and your Shipment
Airway bill will be sent to you immediatly to track your Cargo to your
given address within 48 Hours .Our Diplomat agent will call you on
arrival to your country to hand over your Box to you.
BE CONFIDENT AND TRUST OUR ABSOLUTE SPEED SERVICE ONCE YOU CORPORATE
AND FOLLOW OUR DIRECTIVES.
YOURS IN SERVICE,
Mr Smith Jack
DISPATCH COORDINATOR
DIRECTOR DHL COURIER COMPANY
Tel: +229-98475441
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Anti-fraud resources:
