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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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Charles Peter <"www."@miracle.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Charles Peter <developmentbankafrican3@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2017 08:01:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear beneficiary
Dear beneficiary,
Kindly note that i can not scam you just for $45.00 because our activities are being monitored by the world securities and FBI including USA embassy Group and the Federal Government For this reason i promise you in confidence that we will not let you down.
You may have been scammed in the past while trying to claim your payment, this does not means that all internet transactions are all scammers. I want to assure you 100% that this consignment box is legal and there is no risk involved because i will guide and protect you accordingly until your funds of $1.5M is successfully delivered to your address. You should give me benefit of the doubt this time and i assure you with utmost sincerity there will be no more charges or delay after this until the fund is delivered to your address by diplomat Agent Mr Fredrick who is currently in USA as i am talking to you now.
You are hereby advised to do everything possible to pay the needed fee of $45 and Be rest assured that once this fee is being confirmed, i will legally depart immediately to your house ,then you will receive your packages with out any other charges again.
GO AHEAD AND SEND YOUR INFORMATIONS WE SHALL PROVIDE FOR YOU AN PAYMENT DETAILS WHERE YOU WILL SEND THE FEE OF $45 THROUGH MONEY GRAM.
THANKS,
Now i urge you to hold me personally responsible if you pay the fee and you did not receive your package within 6hours as promised, this is my word and my word is my bond.
MR CHARLES PETER
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Anti-fraud resources:
