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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. )
- "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 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.
- grammoney88@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. CHINELO OBUKWE" <"WWW."@cup.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR. CHINELO OBUKWE" <grammoney88@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2017 23:39:22 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Good News Ref # 63833030
Good News Ref # 63833030
This is to inform you about the latest development concerning all the payment that are left in our custody, which yours are inclusive besides, where you are given a bill of Sum in order to receive your payment which we haven't heard from you for sometime now.
Hence, our Money Gram is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers that are having one problem or the other of payments in our custody due to high price. In other words we are now requesting that those involved should pay only the sum of $85. to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody which is total sum of $2.6m only.
As soon as you make the payment of the $85 and us your receivers info as listed below your first payment of $3500 shall be release immediately because it was on hold until you send the $85 i am expecting for your quickly response immediately you receive this mail with the money gram payment info.
HERE IS YOUR REFERENCE#63833030
SENDERS NAME: JOHN FLEMING
Programed Amount : $3500
SEND THE MONEY TO BELOW INFO;
Receiver's name: PAUL CHIKA
Country: Cotonou Benin
City: Cotonou
Text Question: NOW
Answer: ;;;;;;;YES
Amount required: $85
Dr.Chinelo Obukwe
grammoney88@yahoo.fr
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Anti-fraud resources:
