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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:
- "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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Muyidin Adesina" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <muyidinadesina@outlook.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 13:03:31 -0600
Subject: Very Urgent from Commonwealth Department Of Justice
Very Urgent from Commonwealth Department Of Justice
26 Federal Plaza 23rd Floor.
Official Letter From Commonwealth.
Very Urgent
This is to notify to you that I resumed work to office 24hours back and i received update from United Nation Ambassador Mathew and he told me There will be an International Flight tomorrow by 4pm and Mr. Hilary Kalu will act as your diplomat and deliver the package to you which will take only 6 hours to get the package delivered. The actual fee was $590 usd but it was reduced to $290 usd this morning to ensure that you received your package tomorrow.
Note: The package you will receive contain ATM Card which contain $5.8Million usd and Master Credit Card which contain $260,000 with the required security document which was made in your name as the sole owner and it also include the security pin you will use to transact with both credit cards.
The fund is from the UN compensation/bailout funds for citizens of UN member countries and citizens of commonwealth Nations for poverty alleviation during this economic crunch and recession. The sum of $1BN (One Billion united state dollars) was shared amongst 215 companies and individuals. You were awarded the fund for investment to ease the
economic crunch and to be profitable and help others in need as a measure to ease the present economic hardship.
The sum of $290 usd is required to enable Mr.frank Billy from the origin of your fund get a diplomatic package seal with tag or else the International Airport customs will not allow him to board the flight with the package and this diplomatic package seal with tag will be made in your name as the owner of the package.
There is no much time left and the fee need to be paid today to enable him board tonight flight and it will take 6 hours to get the package delivered to you. Send the $290 usd charge fee and get your package delivered within 6 hours and this will be the only fee required from
you toward this transaction.
SO DIRECT THE $290 TO THE ORIGIN OF YOUR FUND AS LISTED BELOW VIA MONEY GRAM.
RECEIVE NAME..........James Otuah
Address……………… Benin
City………………..Cotonou
AMOUNT:......$290.00 US DOLLARS ONLY
I am online waiting for your reply with the $290 payment so that you will get your fund successful by tomorrow from the diplomat Mr. frank
Wilson.
Mrs.Donna Handslay
Deputy Secretary-General.
Sign.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
the office or official charged with the prosecution of criminal
offenses in several criminal jurisdictions around the world.
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