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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. )
- "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. )
- "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: From United States Former Ambassador <hdffc6571@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ambassadormrsgayleatha@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:12:00 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Hello My Dear
Hello My Dear
This is Mrs Gayleatha B.Brown the Former United States
Ambassador again , I was searching for some files that i left in this
office and found out that you have not received your funds,
So my dear I know you sent money to some group of criminals but
later they did not deliver your funds, I want to promise you by the name
of God that once you send this fee you are going to receive your funds
without further delays and also this is the only fee you have to pay
once you send the $55.00 just leave everything for me okay, I will make
sure you receive your funds okay.
So you should just walk down any western union around you
and send the money so that you can start receiving your funds without
further delays
In addition, I am hereby giving your every guarantee and also
100 % percent assurance that this is the only money you will pay payable
and after you pay it you will start receive your fund immediately
without any setback, so try to send this fee today with the provided
information below.
1. Receiver name:............. Mr. Sam Chika.
2. Country:............. Benin Republic West Africa.
3. City :............... Cotonou.
4...Test question:....How Long
5. Test answer:......Today.
6..Amount ..........US$55.00
I will wait to hear from you today with the mtcn number.
Mrs Gayleatha B.Brown
United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
E-MAIL:( ambassadormrsgayleatha@cnegal.net )
Mrs Gayleatha B.Brown
USAID
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Anti-fraud resources:
