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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "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 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: Money Gram Transfer <www.moneygrambj@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Money Gram Transfer <moneygramremittanceservice@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 21:53:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your Urgent Attention Required
Dear,
It's our pleasure to inform you the latest development concerning your Overdue payment after our Board of Directors meeting this yesterday with Ministry of Foreign Affairs we have been instructed by the MFA to release your Overdue Payment of US$1.8 Million through our service Money Gram.
Meanwhile based on our agreement with Ministry of Foreign Affairs you will pay just US$95.00 for RE-ACTIVATION of your File and you will be receiving US$9,000.00 on a daily basis until your total payment of $1.8 Million is completely transferred based on your directives.
BELOW IS THE INSTRUCTION FOR YOU TO SEND THE FEE TO US VIA OUR SERVICE MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION:
RECEIVER NAME: ====== BLESSING OGUGUA
COUNTRY: ====== BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: ======= COTONOU
TEST QUESTION: ==== COLOR
ANSWER: ====== WHITE
AMOUNT: ===== US$95.00
Note follow our official arrangement we will split your total daily payment of US$9,000.00 into two Referance Number which will worth $4,500.00 per each and you we will receive two payments daily.
DO NOT FORGET TO FORWARD THE BELOW DETAILS TO US ONCE YOU SEND REQUIRED RE-ACTIVATION FEE.
MTCN / REF Number
Sender Name
Your Full Address
Tel Number
We will appreciate your immediate attention to this matter.
I'm glad to be of your service.
Yours in Service
Sir Edward John
Tel: 00229 9787 1869
General Manager Money Gram
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