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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:
- "required 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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "fbi.washingtondc01@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: FBI WASHINGTON DC <"www."@smile.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: FBI WASHINGTON DC <fbi.washingtondc01@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2017 13:05:47 +0900 (JST)
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
Urgent Attention
I am sorry for the late reply back' i was not feeling good all these while due to office stress but everything is ok now because i followed my doctors advise and stayed out of office for 3 days, I resumed work some hours back and i received update from (CHARLES BRUNO) he told me there will be an international flight today by 9pm in West African time and he will act as your diplomat and deliver your compensation funds to you which will take only 4hours
Note that the package you are about to receive contained an Atm Visa Card' valued sum of ($3.5m USD) and a verified Cashier Bank Cheque of ($16.5m USD) with some related security documentations attached to it and it also includes the Security pin numbers to transact your card and be informed that the sum of $198 was demanded for the securing of the diplomatic package seal on your behalf through the help of the attorney to avoid inspection at any transited airport or arrival in your country and note that you have to hasten up in sending the required fee with the payment information listed below to enable the dept to meet up within the time frame in accordance today and make sure you reconfirm your current receiving information including your full name and current address in your mail return
Reconfirm your current delivery info as requested below
Beneficiary full name.......
Country...........
City.............
Current address.....
Direct Phone number.......
Nearest airport........
Occupation.......
Id copy .........(if any)
Send by Money Gram office with the payment information listed below
Receiver's Name: Mun Uba
Country: Benin Republic
City :Cotonou
Country code number: +229
Receiver's address......01 Bp 196 recette principal ' Cotonou' Benin republic
Amount to send ......$198 only
Reference no................?
Best regards....
Andrew McCabe
Phone: +1(202) 510-9041
Email (fbi.washingtondc01@outlook.com)
SENIOR OFFICE DEPARTMENT
Federal Bureau Of Investigation FBI.WASHINGTON DC
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