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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:
- "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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.royal555@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.MARK BEN" <michaelbeasley638@gmail.com>
Reply-To: office.royal555@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2017 10:00:45 -0700
Subject: REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC GENERAL POST OFFICE
REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC GENERAL POST OFFICE
ADDRESS: BARNES ROAD P.O BOX12720.1#160;COTONOU BENIN
GOOD DAY DEAR LEGITIMATE BENEFICIARY ATM CARD,
FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE.THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS AN
ATM CARD IN THIS OFFICE DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BODY ON
THE 25/10/
2017.
Your e-mail address was attached to it and is to be posted to you. we
have Been waiting for you to contact us for your conformable ATM card
which Contains the sum of US$5Million (Five Million United State
Dollars) and some vital Documents. So kindly get back to this office
(regular mail post office Benin Republic) to avoid fraudulent issues
concerning this service.
You are to confirm and provide to us your postal address below.
YOUR FULL NAME...................
YOUR COUNTRY.....................
YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS..............
YOUR DIRECT PHONE................
Note: that you are to pay for the postal charges of US$29. And you are
advise To send the postal charges through western union to the post
Office with the Cashier's name below and forward the payment
information to us for immediate Posting of Your ATM card.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE POSTING CHARGES OF US$29 THROUGH
WESTERN UNION Via MONEY GRAM ONLY.
RECEIVER NAME: ======== Francis emeka
COUNTRY: ============= BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY: ================ COTONOU
TEXT Q: ============== HOW LONG?
TEXT A: ============== NOW:
Note: that every claims has an expiring period of fourteen working
days (14days) so you have to do that very urgently to avoid
expiration.
The Benin Postal Service (BPOST) is the national carrier of all
classes of mail items for delivery both within and outside Benin
Republic. Mail items, which include letters, postcards, printed
papers, parcels and aerograms are processed through the post office.
Maximum weight for Speed post is 50kg. Maximum weight for
International item is 30kg.
E:mail..............office.royal555@yahoo.com
BEST REGARD'S,
DIRECTOR POST OFFICE
BENIN REPUBLIC
MR. MARK BEN
TELE PHONE NO: +2299-855-0991
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Anti-fraud resources:
