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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:
- "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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Uba Benin " <mahaji.@lake.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Uba Benin <uba_dept@yeah.net>
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2016 01:26:10 +0900 (JST)
Subject: MD
Sir, your family member long awaiting funds has being release yesterday after board of directors meeting.The first approved sum is $1.5 million.
Here is your first payment $4,000.00 picking up informations with valid (MTCN) you have to verify the MTCN via Google chrome, the full info was not release to you for immediately collect due to one reason which you are advise to regulate it fast , you have to pay for the government VAT of $98 usd. name and address: NZEKWE ISRAEL NWAEZEGACHI. Country name : Benin rep. City name : Cotonou.immediately confirmation of this fee, we shall release your
( question & answer ) After payment confirmed.
(MTCN) 5932730027: Sender First Name: Edward : Sender Last Name: Mc Donald
Website; https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country
Hon.C.Zaki.
UBA .FIN.DEPT.
+229 62 86 42 88.
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Anti-fraud resources:
