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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. )
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "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: "Foreign Remittance \(Bank Of America\)" <officefile---45124@att.net>
Reply-To: info.atmremittancedepartm@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 05:14:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FUND PICKUP TODAY.
Dear Sir.
With all due respect, Thank you for receiving my email. Please note
that we receive a call from the BANK OF AMERICA, that you can pickup
your fund from the nearest bank this morning as soon as you can send us
the requested fee this morning so that we can get our BOA clearance
document this morning so please try all you can to see that you send the
requested fee today so that your fund will be at your destination
address by today without any further delay again. Please note that the
only fee you have to send today is $33, Please note that this $33, is to
provide you BOA clearance document by today and nothing more again.
Please it will take care of every things. Below is the details to send
the money by Western Union or money gram Only.
Receives Name:--------Ifeanyi Chukwu John
Country:--------- Benin Republic
City/state:--------- Cotonou.
Question:--------- What Color?
Answer:-------- -Blue
Amount:--------- $33
MTCN:---------
As soon as you send the fee, try to forward us the payment details today
so that we can proceed without any delay again. Please try all you can
to see that you do that today so that we can finalize every things by
today without any further delay again. the bank has made it clear that
as soon as you send this fee today that your fund will be at your
destination address by today without any further delay again by today
and our bank will call you for confirmation today as soon as we receive
the requested fee by today..
Please get back to us now.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
All the best
Destiny Mike.
Bank of America.
Management.
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Anti-fraud resources:
