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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:
- 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. )
- "gramtransfer002@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447024013966 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "MONEYGRAM OFFICE" <gramtransfer002@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 22:53:20 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PICK UP YOUR FUNDS IN THE MONEYGRAM OFFICE.
Attn: Recepient
We wish to inform you that the payout of your funds of £7100.00 through
Moneygram Office to you,by HSBC BANK IN ENGLAND Attorney:Mr. Michael
McDowell(Esq). We want you to confirm your Moneygram information below so
that you can pick up your funds in any Moneygram Office in your Country
as soon as possible:
SENDER's NAME: Jimmy Patterson
SENDER ADDRESS: 64 Newman Street United kingdom
AMOUNT SENT: £7100.00
REFERENCE NUMBER: 38318362
TEXT QUESTION: In God
TEXT ANSWER: We Trust
You will use your information below to pick up your funds in any
Moneygram Office in your Country as soon as possible.
Receive Name:
Receive Address:
Let us repeat again try to contact us as soon as you receive this mail to
avoid any further delay and remember for their immediate action. This is
to avoid them delaying of your funds. Contact us through Email Address:
(gramtransfer002@yahoo.cn )
We are waiting for your response.
Yours Faithfully
Managing Director.
Mrs Johnson Helen
Tel::+447024013966,+447031847094
Fax:+448704956437
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КОМПЬЮТЕРИЙРТЕХÐИК МЕÐЕЖМEÐТИЙРСУРГУУЛЬ, MUST (КТМС).
Computer Science and Management School, Mongolian University of Science and Technology (CSMS).
Visit us at http://www.csms.edu.mn
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Anti-fraud resources:
