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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. )
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- 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.
- deliverydeliveryaaaaa@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: US FEDERAL RESERVE VERIFICATION <emrysbright@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usfrvc1@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 7 May 2017 23:18:18 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS DEAR PARCEL OWNER!
CONGRATULATIONS DEAR PARCEL OWNER!!
From Federal Reserves Verification Office USA, Your Payment code :(7124)
Good day to you and your family, wishing you blessed day from Federal
Reserves Verification Office USA, We the Federal Reserves Verification
Office USA were hereby to inform you that a parcel was reported in
this office from Airport custom authority on 2RD of MAY; 2017 as a
result that the parcel has no legal documents that shows that the
parcel is coming from Republic Du Benin during our proper
investigation.
Noted that after our investigations and verification on this issue we
find out that you have to obtain the parcel Yellow Tag and IRS
certificate from Republic Du Benin been the origin of this transaction
which the obtaining of the documents will cost you altogether sum of
$55.00usd only, this instruction came to us from International
Monetary Fund (IMF) in Affiliation with Federal Bureau Investigation
(FBI).Also, we have been having a meeting for quite sometime now with
the IMF of Benin Republic with Federal High Court and we just came to
a logical conclusion few days ago.
They have agreed that once you obtain the Yellow Tag and IRS
certificate your($5.5 US Dollars)parcel will be release in other to
complete the delivery to your provided home details.Therefore, you
have to reconfirm your full details to us including your telephone
number.
SEND THE NEEDED $55.00 THROUGH WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM WITH BELOW
INFORMATION TODAY.
RECEIVER....EKENE OBUDIKE
COUNTRY....BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY/STATE...COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION...GOD IS?
ANSWER....GOOD
MTCN.......
Contact FedEx courier manager Mr.Mmili Ndu with your payment code:
(7124) immediately for your parcel at the given address below:Person
to Contact: FedEx courier manager
Email:(deliverydeliveryaaaaa@gmail.com ) Give him a
call-phone:+22998801044
I apologize on behalf of the (IMF) in Affiliation with Federal Bureau
Investigation (FBI) organization for any delay you might have
encountered in receiving your parcel in the past. I look forward to
hear from you as soon as you confirm your payment.
Regards
HON. MR. CHARLES DENISE.
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