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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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: david kelly <leanpilar@alice.it>
Reply-To: moneygram.nt@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2017 00:19:17 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Attention
MONEYGRAM MONEY TRANSFER IS ARVELEBLE TO PICK UP
The GOVERNOR has instructed the moneygram
payment department MR.johnson chatzel to send the sum of
$1.200 000.00 through his custody for easy receiver of your funds.
You are to contact them now to ensure that your fund will be
transferring to you once you send them the needed information to
avoid wrong transaction.According to the demands of moneygram MONEY TRANSFER
you are to receive your fund at the
installment rate of $5,000 daily until the US$1.200 000.00 is
completely transferred to you accordingly. You are to contact them
now with the bellow information to avoid wrong
transaction.
FEEL THIS FORM
(1)Your Full name:.......................
(2)Your Phone number:................
(3)Your Contact address:.................
(4)Your Age:.............................
Listen very carefully, tell MR.johnson chatzel that you'r advise to contact
him by MR.david kelly from Ministry Of Finance here in Benin ;Bellow is his
Contact Information.
CONTACT:+229 9947 5980
NAME:MR.johnson chatzel
Address: 12 Avenue Island streets, Cotonou, Benin Republic
Please, do not forget to update me as soon as you receive your
first payment.
Best regards.
david kelly
F.A in Ministry of Finance
Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
