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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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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: "Mr.Ofor Anthony " <"www."@lime.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.Ofor Anthony " <moneygramoffice0187@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2017 09:55:38 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention !!!
Attention !!!
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is compensating all the 2017 scam victims and your email address was found in the scam victims list. This
Money Gram®office has been mandated by the IMF to transfer your compensation to you via Money Gram® Money Transfer.
However, we have concluded to effect your own payment through Money Gram®Money Transfer, $5,000.00 usd, pay Day until the total sum of $3.8Million
is completely transferred to you the receiver.
We can not be able to send the payment with your email address alone, we are here by needed your information to where we will be sending the funds.
You Can Text us and fill below Information Or email us via email.
(Receivers name)............
(Country)...................... .
( Address)...................... ..........
(Phone Number).....................
(Your Age........................... .......
(ID copy)............. ..................
Note that your payment files will be returned to the IMF within 72 hours if we did not hear from you because this was the instruction given to us by
the IMF office here in Benin. We will start the transfer as soon as we received your information.
THANKS,
Mr.Ofor Anthony
Foreign Operation Manager Payment Office
Money Gram Money Transfer Office.
Call or text at anytime:+229-9968-1308
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Anti-fraud resources:
