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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. )
- "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. )
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "randychamber@aol.de" (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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: David Manya <"www."@able.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: David Manya <randychamber@aol.de>
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2017 17:23:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Get back to us immediately as soon as you get messsage
Attention beneficiary,
This is to officially notify you that you have been selected as one of the Beneficiaries of 2017 World bank fund. Your e-mail address was randomly chosen by the Topaz Ballot System. You have been awarded the sum of $15,500.000 USD by the World bank in its on-going Social Responsibility Cash Aid Program. This amount will be paid to you through Money-gram
My name is David Manya. it pleases me to inform you that we have been endorsed to distribute the sum of $10,000 to you per day until you successfully receive your entire (US$15.5m) . Note your first installment has been issue this morning but before you will be eligible to pick it up you have to pay the fund activation fee.
Finally here is the detail of our account officer where you are required to wire the mandated activation fee, note you are warn and advice to hold this transaction and its content very confidential:
The sooner you send the activation fee the earlier you pick up your first payment...Have the fee sent via Western Union or Money Gram using the following info.
Receiver’s name: Jim Adam
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin republic.
Text question: YES?
Answer: YES
Reference number….. ?
Call or text me immediately you make the payment #(859) 594-8203.
Please reply ASAP!
Best regards
Mr. David Manya.
E-mail: randychamber@aol.de
Phone #(859) 594-8203 call or text
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Anti-fraud resources:
