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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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 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.
- mrdavidwilliams814@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mr david william <"WWW."@gaea.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: mr david william <mrdavidwilliams814@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 May 2017 04:39:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: attention
attention
I have registered your ATM CARD of (US $12.4) with UPS Express courier Company
customer service with registration code of (9665776) please Contact with your
delivery information:
UPS COMPANY Name;
REV DAVID WILLAM .E-mail:(mrdavidwilliams814@GMAIL.COM)
Please indicates the registration Number of (9665776) Finish them with your
Address and Phone number for your delivery.only money you have to pay is their
security keeping fee and is Mandatory before you will receive your ATM card
fee the sum of $250usd and send direct to United state embassy office Benin Republic via fastest transfer MONEY GRAM for our immediate action for the transfer and come back to us with the information's, and below is the embassy info.
VIA MONEY GRAM ONLY..
HERE IS THE INFORMATION
Receivers name::::::: KEN IKEM
Country::::::::: Benin Republic
City::::::::::Cotonou
Question:::::TO WHO?
Answer:::::::MR KEN
MTCN...........
AMOUNT........$250usd
If the fee received today your funds will be delivered depend how fast you send the fee and funds will be delivered within 72 hours
TEL :1(561)216-2660
Best Regards
REV DAVID WILLIAM
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Anti-fraud resources:
