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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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- office.file964@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JUSTICE TOGA <"www."@maple.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: JUSTICE TOGA <office.file964@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2017 08:46:25 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS APPROVED
FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS RB BRANCH:
B/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA, COTONOU BENIN REP.
OUR REF.CODE: BSEL/773/AWN/031/17
Urgent Attention Dear
Thanks for your email message in this honourable court. This court is promising to help do our possible to make sure that you receive your funds sum of $800,000.00 immediately.
We have noticed that for you to pay for the Bank or courier charges is too much because of the funds that you have lost in the hands of the impostors. We therefore had decided that your Final Funds Release Order will be signed and that will authorize both the Bank or Courier Company to deduct their charges and then deliver or transfer your rest balance to you. The signing of this certificate will cost you $105 USD only .
You have to know after this fee is paid no one will ask you for Bank processing or Courier company delivery fee. All those fees will be deducted out of your funds and they will give you the receipt of the deduction so that you will know how much remaining out of your funds sum of $800,000.00.
Without any delay, this court hereby advise that you should go ahead and send this fee of $105 USD as soon as possible today so that we can proceed immediately and you will receive your funds between now and Monday next week as much time is given to make sure that you confirm your funds before it will be cancelled.
Note: No deduction will be made out of your funds if this Final Funds release Permit has not been signed. So kindly send the fee today so that everything will be okay and you will receive your funds via Courier company delivery of ATM CARD depending on your choice.
Below is the information to remit the payment $105 via Money Gram immediately.
Receiver.............Onyi Kevin
Country.................Benin republic
City.............Cotonou
Amount.............$105 USD
As soon as this fee is confirm this court will take the certificate to the Presidential Office where it will be signed and then forwarded to you also. Any bank or Courier company that you may choose to send your funds to you will have the right to deduct their charges out of your funds and send your balance.
You are also warned to quit contacting any fake office/offices to enable you to not have any problem in receiving your funds okay.
Your urgent reply with the payment information, which included the MTCN and sender name will be appreciated. We therefore awaits your reply asap.
As soon as we hear from you with this payment be rest assured that you will receive all your money.
Thanks.
Chief Justice Toga Mclntosh
FROM HIGH COURT BENIN REP. BRANCH
call me or text on +229-996-1-6065
office.file964@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
