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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. )
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
- 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: MONEY GRAM <www..@biscuit.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MONEY GRAM <moneygramtransfer123@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2018 05:50:20 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION $800,000.00.
MONEY GRAM ONLINE MONEY TRANSFER WORLDWIDE:
OFFICE OF THE MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU
Attention Please.
This is to inform you that the higher authorities that is in-charge of International Transaction has this morning declared that you will receive your $800,000.00Usd United States Dollars) through Money Gram Money Transfer Only as compensation for your past effort here in Benin Republic.
So the arrangement has been made this morning and the Federal High Court Of Justice has signed your Money Gram Transfer Papers and the only money you will pay is US$85.00 . for the signing of it which means your transfer will start tomorrow morning.The daily transfer of your fund is US$5000.00 per day until your total US$800,000.00 United States Dollars) is completely transferred to you.
I am here to swear to you that your first payment of the US$5000.00 daily transfer will be on its way today or latest tomorrow morning once we confirm the US$30.00 from you which is for the Federal High Court Of Justice Benin Republic signing of your Money Gram Transfer Papers To show you the truth.
Below is the First transfer payment details which has been insert into our computer.
SENDER'S LAST NAME: Lewis
Amount......$5000.00
Text Question....Honest
Answer.....Trust
Mtcn Number;==: 53980592 (Pending...) Available for pick up by receiver.
then we want you to click Money Gram tracking link( https://secure.moneygram.com ) and click tracking and paste sender's Last Name and last name,the you pest mtcn number and click check status to see that your first transfer of US$5,000.00 is available for you but you will not pick it until you pay the needed US$85.00 for the signing of your Money Gram Transfer Papers by the Federal High Court Benin Republic.So we are here giving you this Money Gram Payment Information for you to send the US$85.00 immediately and your first transfer of the US$5000.00 will be on its way after we pick the US$85.00;
Receiver's Name:............... Akim Ibe
Country:....................... Benin Republic
City:.......................... Cotonou
Amount:....................... $85.00
Question:...................... Honest
Answer:........................ Trust
We wait for your mail with the US$85.00 from you and be rest assured that you will receive your total compensation of $800,000.00Usd from us because this is General Money Gram Head Office here in Benin Republic.Finally you are advise to stop emailing any office or department here in Benin Republic until you receive your full compensation by our office this is for your safety.
Mr.Albert Williams
From Money Gram Money Transfer Head Office Benin Republic Manager
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Anti-fraud resources:
