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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:
- "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. )
- "mfinance56@ymail.com" (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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS.TONY COOKE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrstonycooke6@e-mail.ua>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:08:49 +0100
Subject: THIS IS VERY INPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
ATTENTION: THE OWNER OF THIS EMAIL ID.
THIS IS TO INFORM YOUTHAT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE WITH THE PRESIDENCY REPUBLIQUE DUBENIN HELD A MEETING ON APRIL FIRST 2012 IN REGARDS OF THE PAYMENTS OF YOURLOTTERY WINNING FUNDS OF $3.8MUSD AND THE MEETING LASTED 10DAYSWHICH THEY CONCLUDED IT THAT YOUR LOTTERY WINNING FUNDS OF $3.8M (THREEMILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) SHOULD BE PAYING TO YOU BY WESTERNUNION MONEY TRANSFER AT THE INSTALLEMENTAL RATE OF $6500 DAILY UNTIL YOURECEIVE YOUR COMPLETE LOTTERY WINNING FUNDS OF $3.8M. IN WHICH THE FIRSTPAYMENT HAS BEING SENT TO YOU TODAY, BUT THE MTCN NUMBER WAS WITH MRLARRY M.LAND THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE .AND YOU SHOULD CALL MR.LARRY M. LAND IMMEDIATELY AND ASK HIM TO RENEW YOUR PAYMENT FILE #:458/08N/2012AND RELEASE THE MTCN OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.
THIS IS THE E-MAILCONTACT ADDRESS OF MR. LARRY M. LAND
E-MAIL: mfinance56@ymail.com
PHONE: +229 99099136
NOTE THAT MR LARRY M.LAND WAS WAITING FOR YOUR CONTACT FOR URGENT RENEWAL OF YOURPAYMENT FILE AND GIVE YOU THE MTCN NUMBER OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT.
AND YOU SHOULD NOTFORGET TO RECONFIRM YOUR DETAILS TO HIM SUCH AS
1.YOUR FULLNAME:
2.YOURADDRESS:
3.COUNTRY:
4.YOUR PHONENUMBER:
5.YOUR PERSONAL ID CARD PHOTO:
6.GENDER AND AGE:
8.OCCUPATION ANDPOSITION:
GOD BLESS YOU WHILE IWAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
WITH REGARDS
MRS.TONY COOKE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
