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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:
- "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. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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: "DR. FRANK EFFEGO" <info.effegooffice011@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:22:57 +0100
Subject: Obliged to keep you updated on your funds transfer__________
Good morning.
Dear Sir.
How are you doing this morning? Please note that we receive your
email. I am much obliged to keep you updated on your funds transfer.
Please you have to understand that your payment is $200.000.00USD. We
have been waiting for you to comply today so that we can kindly
transfer your fund into your adestination address and i rush to the
bank this morning to findout what is going on and the bank said that
there is a little problem with geting your fund. this fee is to
provide The Payment Wire Slip. Via the attachent and get back to me
with the payment details today.
The bank of america will deliver your fund will be in your destination
address within 2hours. so you have to comply now by sending the
delivery fee $32 by western union only, with the below information: As
soon as you send the money, kindly forward us the MTCN/ attachement of
the western union only.
want you to get your mind in rider and feel comfortable becuse we
have reaching the conclusive position of your funds transfer. There is
no way we can deduct this fee from your fund becuse of the insurance
policy . so i want you to do what you can to send the fee via western
union to enable the dispatch of the cheque to your position . Use this
information to send the $32 via western union only with the below
details:
Receivers name: Uzoma Simple
Question: What For?
Answer: Fee
Country: Benin Republic
City state: Port Novo
Zip code 229.
Amount: $32
Confirm the MTCN------------- ....and the senders name ....
to us so that we can proceed the cheque will get to you in three days
together with all the needed document your bank will need to pay you
out the same time you tender the payment to the bank .
Yours sincerely,
Frank Effego
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Anti-fraud resources:
