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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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- gramm2101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.JALAL GHARIB" <lkfd850@gmail.com>
Reply-To: gramm2101@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2022 06:49:26 +0100
Subject: Welcome to Money Gram Money Transfer
Welcome to Money Gram Money Transfer Send Money Worldwide
office Department Of Money Gram Cotonou Benin Republic
ADDRESS: 1500 Akpakpa Avenue, Cotonou; Benin
Visit Us Via Website: www.moneygram.com
Greetings From Money Gram
The Money Gram Transfer Service Cotonou Benin Headquarters wishes to
inform you that our government has paid part of the fees needed for
the final release of your funds which is worth $4.500,000.00 USD to
you this month through our Money Gram Office here in United States.
For your information the maximum amount you will be receiving from
tomorrow is $5000 USD till your total funds of $4.500,000.00 USD is
completely transferred to you.
We have been struggling to send you the first payment of $5000 USD
today through our payment system here before we found out that your
payment file needed to be renewed from the World Bank central system.
Below is your first payment of $5000 USD that is sent in your name
this morning but you will not be able to pickup the money unless you
send the fee of US$27.00 required to renew and reconfirm your payment
file to us through the World Bank Central System here in United
States.
Below is your first payment for $5000 usd sent today.
Click on the link below to track your $5000 payment status now. It is
a compulsory step to take if you really want to gain
access to your payment. You can also copy and paste the link on your
web browser and with to download
Track View Website link:
https://secure.moneygram.com/track
Money Transfer Control Number (REFERENCE) # 62272243
Sender Last Name : Shabangu
Click on check status to view that your first payment is available for
pick up by you. Remember it is compulsory to track it first.
So if you want to track the money to confirm if the funds is
transferred visit our website below:
https://secure.moneygram.com/track
enter the (REFERENCE) number # 62272243 Enter senders last name.
Shabangu and click tracking and it will show you that your funds is
available for you to pick up.
Your urgent response is highly needed in sending the $27.00usd to
enable us proceed to reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank
central System. Send the $27 directly with the name as outlined below
via our money gram outlet to enable us pick it from our department
here and reconfirm your payment file approval from the world Bank
central System and commence your daily payment immediately Please you
were advice to send the fee via our Money Gram Cashier Name.
Send the fee via Money Gram Only.
Receiver's Name: Milo Buddy
Address: Cotonou Benin
Amount: $27
Can buy Google Play Card or Steam $27and send it to email (gramm2101@gmail.com)
NOTE: You will not be able to pickup the $5000 USD unless you send the
fee of US$27 required to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us
through the World Bank Central System in United State.
This payment you are receiving is coming directly from World Bank
assistance program on poverty alleviation, the Money Gram headquarters
has agreed to start sending you the payment of $5000 usd daily as soon
as you meet up with the $27 which is for the reconfirmation of your
payment file from the world Bank central System.
However, failure to adhere to the above instruction after 3days put
you at a high risk of cancellation of your payment and have it return
back to government.
Yours respectfully,
MR.JALAL GHARIB
+229 66237608
Revenue Avendant
EMAIL ME ONCE AGAIN FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
