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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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: Mr. John ABA<info@usa.org>
Reply-To: moneygrammoneytransfer@web.co.zw
Date: 22 Dec 2016 18:36:21 +0100
Subject: Greetings from Money Gram Money Transfer Control Number (REF):17369582 Track with this last name only ( Mazer )
Welcome to Money Gram Money Transfer Send Money
Worldwide Office Department of Money Gram Cotonou
Benin
Republic ADDRESS: 1500 Akpakpa Avenue, Cotonou;
Benin
Visit Us Via Website: www.moneygram.com
Greetings from Money Gram
The Money Gram Transfer Service Cotonou Benin
Headquarters wishes to inform you that our
Director manager has paid part of the fees needed
for the final release of your funds which is worth
$10.500,000.00 USD to you this month through our
Money Gram Office here in United States.For your
information the maximum amount you will be
receiving from today is $5000 USD till your total
funds of $10.500, 000.00 USD is completely
transferred to you.We have been struggling to send
you the first payment of $5000 US today through
our payment system here before we found out that
your payment file needed to be renewed from the
World Bank central system. Below is your first
payment of $5000 USD that is sent in your name
this morning but you will not be able to pick up
the money unless you send the fee of US$85.00USD
required to
renew and reconfirm your payment file to us
through the World Bank Central System here in
Benin Republic. Below is your first payment for
$5000 usd sent
today. Click on the link below to track your $5000
payment status now. It is a compulsory step to
take if you really want to gain access to your
payment. You can also copy and paste the link on
your web browser: (Track the MTCN track) by
visiting:::::::::
https://secure.moneygram.com/transactions/
Money Transfer Control Number (REF):17369582 Track
with this last name only ( Mazer )
Sender First Name: Elliott
Sender Last Name: Mazer
Amount Sent=$5,000 USD
Click on check status to view that your first
payment is available for pick up by you. Remember
it is compulsory to track it first. So if you want
to track the money to confirm if the fund is
transferred visit our website below:
https://secure.moneygram.com/track Enter the
(REF):17369582 Track with this last name only (
Mazer ) and click tracking and it will show you
that your funds is available for you to pick up.
Your urgent response is highly needed in sending
the $85usd to enable us proceed to reconfirm your
payment file from the world Bank central System.
Send the 85usd directly with the name as outlined
below via our money gram outlet to enable us pick
it from our department here and reconfirm your
payment file approval from the world Bank central
System and commence your daily payment immediately
Please you were advice to send the fee via our
Money Gram Cashier Name. Send the fee via Money
Gram Only or western union
Receiver's Name: ANTHONY OSITA
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Amount: $85usd
NOTE: You will not be able to pick up the $5000
USD unless you send the fee of US$85required to
renew and reconfirm your payment file to us
through the World Bank Central System in United
State.This payment you are receiving is coming
directly from World Bank, the Money Gram
headquarters has agreed to start sending you the
payment of $5000 usd daily as soon as you meet up
with the $85usd which is for the reconfirmation of
your payment file from the world Bank central
System.However, failure to adhere to the above
instruction after 4days put you at a high risk of
cancellation of your payment you have it return
back to government.
Yours respectfully,
Mr. John ABA
PHONE +229 987 44 909
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