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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- officefile208@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Terry Baez" <nikolai@sgaice.ru>
Reply-To: officefile208@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2017 01:00:26 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam,
Attention:
This is to acknowledge the receipt of the order from the Federal
Ministry Of Finance, in respect with the provision act of decree 114 of
the 1999 constitution; I am directed to inform you that your payment
verification and confirmations is correct. Therefore, we are happy to
inform you that arrangements have been concluded to effect your payment
as soon as
possible and in our bid to transparency.
It is my pleasure to inform you that your ATM Card Number; 5000 0049
0204 0003 have been approved in your favor. Your Personal Identification
Number is 7960. The ATM Card Value is $850,000 THOUSAND USD Only. You
are advised that a maximum withdrawal value of $5,000.00 USD is
permitted on withdrawal per Day and we are duly Inter Switch and you can
make withdrawal in any Inter Switch location and ATM Center of your
choice.
As stated in Mr. Mueller's Email to you the delivery charges is only
$95. As soon as the delivery charges of your atm card payment is
confirmed we shall immediately dispatch your package and email you with
the Dhl tracking numbers so as for you to be able to track your ATM card
online and know when to be at your home to receive it. Please be
informed that the ATM card and the pin would be enclosed in the envelope
and you can make withdrawals from the moment you receive the ATM card.
You will have to make the payment of $95 available to this office using
money Gram transfer with the name of our secretary's information's as
stated below.
RCEIVER NAME....JOHN UME,
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ............ PORTNOVO
TEXT QUESTION ........ HOW FAST
TEXT ANSWERE ........ TODAY
AMOUNT..................$95 USD
As soon as payment is made do send an email with the 8-Digit Referance
numbers so that we can proceed with dispatching of your ATM card without
wasting time. Be rest assured that your $95 is the only payment you will
have to make for the delivery of the ATM card and nothing more.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks as we wait to hear from you.
MR. Terry Baez
Telephone Numbers: +229 954 25478
secret code (8389 ATM CARD).
Email: (officefile208@yahoo.fr)
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