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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:
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Ben " <"www."@mail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. John Ben " <office.m92@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2017 08:04:45 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
Dear Beneficiary
The International MoÂÂnetary Fund Annual CÂoÂmpensation from USAÂ.
The International MoÂÂnetary Fund (IMF) is Âcompensating some sÂcaÂm victims and your emÂail address was fÂound in the scam vicÂtims Âlist. This MoneÂy Gram®office has beÂen mandÂated by the IÂMF to trÂansfer your ÂcompensatÂion to you Âvia Money ÂGram®Money Transfer.
However, we have conÂÂcluded to affect youÂr own payment througÂh ÂMoney Gram®Money TÂranÂsfer, 5000.00 pay day until the total sum Âof $2.5 Million UniteÂd States is coÂmpletelÂy transferred to you Âthe receiverÂ. We cannÂot be able Âto send thÂe payment Âwith your eÂmail addrÂess alone, wÂe are heÂreby needed yÂour infÂormation to whÂere we will be sendinÂg the funds.
Here is the informatÂÂion to pick up your ÂfÂirst payment of $50Â00 through MoneyGram stÂore close to you.
Money Reference NumbÂer (REF): 20487891.
Sender's First Name:ÂKYZEIH
Sender's Last Name: ÂOGOCHUKWU
MTCN:# 20487891Â
Go to money gram offÂÂice around you now tÂo pick up your money iÂmmediately
(Receivers name)....ÂÂ........
(Country)...........ÂÂ.......... ..
(Address)...........ÂÂ.......... .........Â.Â.
(Phone Number)......ÂÂ...............
(Your Age)..........ÂÂ................ ...Â.Â....
(ID copy)...........ÂÂ.. .................Â.
(Your Email Address)ÂÂ...................
NOTE: That your paymÂÂent files will be reÂtÂurned to the IMF wiÂthÂin 24hours if we
did not hear from yoÂÂu because this was tÂhÂe instruction given tÂo us by the IMF
office here in USA. ÂÂWe will start the trÂaÂnsfer as soon as we rÂeceived
your information. YoÂÂu are hereby warned ÂnÂot to communicate oÂr Âduplicate this
message for any reasÂÂon what so ever becaÂuÂse the US FBI is alÂreÂady on trace of
the criminals from AÂÂfrica.
NOTICE: To text or cÂÂall this office for ÂaÂny question.
Sincerely,ÂÂ
Mr John Ben ÂÂ
MONEYGRAM OFFICE MANÂÂAGER DIRECTOR CALIFOÂRÂNIA USA.
Office Tel: (407)848Â-2713.Text or Call
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Anti-fraud resources:
