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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. )
- "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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- 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: James Moore <khadijatabubakar329@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Jammooe567@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2022 14:13:19 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
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Attention My Dear
Welcome to moneygram office company Home Delivery Company,
we are very grateful to be at your service. You have a ATM card worth
$10.9 million dollars
and consignment box worth $8million dollars in our office which was sent to you
by Federal Ministry Of Finance World Compensation (FMF) USA,
you are required to summit the following personal details listed below
to our office via e-mail so that your package will be delivered to you
at your door step within 24hours without any delay or stoppage from
anybody. We would like you to receive the package within this Month.
Your Name_______
Mobile phone No_____
Your home address___
City Airport______
Country______
State______
City______
ID_____
Zip / Postal Code______
Thanks for your kind understanding, hope to hear from your soon, God bless.
Best Regard
Mr James Moore moneygram office
Senior Delivery Officer Official.
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Anti-fraud resources:
