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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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: REV PIUS EMMANUEL <"www."@marble.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: REV PIUS EMMANUEL <revpiusemmanuel@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2017 15:36:11 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary
Attn: Beneficiary
I have been at the courier companies to confirm modalities of
registering and dispatching your ATM MASTER CARD to you. All
modalities for delivery of the ATM MASTER CARD to you I found & the
prices is as follow: acclaimed courier companies such as DHL, FEDEX
and UPS. Below are the necessary findings I made from the courier
companies for the dispatch of your ATM MASTER CARD of US$12.500,000
Dollars to you. Here is the cost of sending your ATM MASTER CARD
through any of these Express courier services and the cost from here
to your country. You are required to pay one of the necessary courier
charges to enable me send your ATM MASTER CARD immediately to you.Or
if you can not send the fee you can come over here in Cotonou
Republic of Benin to pick up the card by your self.once you get to the
airport kindly let us know
Before you start coming please do make sure you send us your flight
schedule so that we can know the exact time you are going to
arrive.But if you can not come in person then you will have to chose any of the below info and
send their delivery fee
Please these are the preferred channels of delivery I confirmed, make
your choice and get back to me today.
------------------------
DHL(3-working days)
TOTAL______$450.00
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FedEx(4-working days)
TOTAL:_______$389.00
-------------------------
UPS(5-working days)
TOTAL:_______$330.00
It is pertinent to note that this payment is not negotiable so select
any of your affordable courier fee and send it through any WESTERN UNION
OR MONEYGRAM OFFICE around you today with the name of my assistant secretary as stated below:
RECEIVERS NAME: SAMUEL EDU
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEST QUESTIONS: WHO
TEST ANSWER: TODAY
AMOUNT: ?
Sender's Name:
MTCN Number#.
Be informed that your ATM MASTER CARD will be delivered to your
address as instructed, as the courier companies I visited
informed me. Therefore I expect you to send the money today so that I
will dispatch your ATM MASTER CARD today. Send the payment information
to me as soon as you made the payment. On receipt of the delivery cost
today, I will proceed immediately to the courier company of your
choice and send the ATM MASTER CARD without delay.
I wait to receive the payment information today.
Sincerely
REV PIUS EMMANUEL
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA ( UBA )
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Anti-fraud resources:
