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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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- 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.
- joewilliam88880@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Joe William <www.@ray.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Joe William <joewilliam88880@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:58:06 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
I Mr Joe William Your Diplomatic Agent I Have Been Trying To Reach you on your phone about Thirty Minutes ago now,
just to inform you about my successful arrival in ( Washington DULES International Airport) USA With your Consignment Box Worth of $10.6 Million USD but you available at the main time,
The Airport Authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the Consignment Box Worth is ready to deliver,
I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented
but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport custom yellow tag and International Delivery Permit certificate.
which is not placed on the Consignment Box Worth, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the custom yellow tag and International Delivery Permit certificate which will cost us only $250 USD . so now all you have to do is to proceed to your Nearest MoneyGram Or Western Union Store Close to you and send the needed fee of $250 USD so that the Airport Authority will obtain the Needed Certificate and send us the scan Copy to Enable the Airport Authority here in (Washington International Airport) USA Release me so that i will be able to complete this delivery of your Bank Check Draft worth of $10.6 Million USD to your door step today
KINDLY FILL IN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
Your Full Name: _
Your Country: __
Your Direct Telephone Numbers: _
Your Current Home Address: _
Your Current Occupation: _
Your Age: _
Your Email Address: __
Kindly Proceed Now To Your Nearest Money Gram Or Western Union Store And Make The Payment For them Obtain The Delivery Permit To Enable Me Complete This Delivery To Your Door Step Today Because I Don't Want To Sleep Here At The airport ✈
Western Union Or Money Gram Payment Information
Receiver's Name : Lemme Know When You Sending It
Amount : $250 USD
Await For The Receipt So That i Will Be Able To Deliver Your Consignment Box Worth Worth Of $10.6 Million USD To Your Door Step Today And Go Back For my family because am so Scared And Tired Of Staying In This airport
Regard
DIPLOMATIC Agent . Joe William email (joewilliam88880@gmail.com) or text me on hangout
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Anti-fraud resources:
