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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. )
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: INFO_SERVICE <dominusywealth339@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officeservice282@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2021 10:57:39 +0100
Subject: Attn,
Dear Customer.
Be informed that we have received your mail in our office this
morning, so we will complete your payment as requested and your form
must be filled for us to immediately effect your payment through
control numbers within 24hours. You are advised to send the sum of
$253us dollars today to enable us to release your money to you in MTCN
control numbers, this is very important as we have finished all
requirements and are supposed to release your fund to you at 13. 20
hours tomorrow after you send the fee with the information below.
Payment information's to send the fee:
Name: Kiki Olivette
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin
Text question: when
Answer: Today
Amount: $ 253 us dollars
To send to this office with the following information once payment is effected.
Senders Name ...................
Senders location........................
Amount...........................
M.T.C.N numbers ...................
Thanks, and please make sure you send the above details of payment to
this office after making payment via Western Union money transfer or
Money Gram for the purchase of your international remittance file to
effect the transfer of your funds.
send back to me together with the needed fee of $253 Us dollars.
Best Regards.
Mr. Francis Morgan
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Anti-fraud resources:
