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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.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- 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.
- michaelezeway@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Dale Buggins <info@winning.net>
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2016 08:13:58 +0200
Subject:
--
Attention
I am contacting you because I have sent you the first payment of $15,000
this morning from your winning funds amount $1.5 Million USD, Therefore you
need to contact the Western Union agent Mr Michael Ezway and ask him to give
you all the transfer payment information and MTCN for pick up at Western
Union.
Agent: Mr. Michael Ezway
Email: michaelezeway@gmail.com
Phone:+229 98098256
Please try and contact him today ask him to furnish you with the payment
information, Remember to Indicate the funds registration code of WU-M6050 to
him when E-mailing or calling him. Also he will be sending you $15,000.00
daily as per our office discussion with his office.
Also send the following information as listed below.
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Your Country:
Your City:
Your Phone Number:
Your Occupation:
Do get in touch with us once you have received the money.Don't reply back
Please copy this email: (michaelezeway@gmail.com) and paste before replying
to them.
Dr Dale Buggins
IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR BENIN REPUBLIC
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Anti-fraud resources:
