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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- money_gramoffice15@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Larry Johnson" <officef574@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: money_gramoffice15@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2013 19:29:10 +0800 (CST)
Subject: MONEY GRAM OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC GET BACK TO US BECAUSE YOUR PAYMENT IS RAEDY
Hello my dear customer happy new year
to you I hope all is well with you if so glory be to God
Almighty?
Well I just want to let you
know that we the MONEY GRAM Benin republic has decided to release your payment
for this New Year because we fined out that you find it difficult to raise the
needed fee last year.
So we decided to use this grate
opportunity to raise your payment with this small amount of money which is
$75.00 to enable you received your payment.
This order comes from federal
ministry of finance Benin republic to receive your total amount of $1.5
million.
You are to be receiving
$5000.00 ever day on till you received all your total amount of $1.5
million.
So be wear what we need from
you is just only $75.00 and your details were you want us to transfer your
payment to you such as your receiver Name and your phone Number so that we can
call you as soon as your payment is transferred to
you.
I also want to let you know
that we can not do any thing without this fee so do try your possible best and
see what you can do to send this fee as soon as you received this email
ok.
Remember this project will end
on October 5ft 2013 this year so do make sure you send this fee as soon as you
received this email ok.
Use this information to send
them the fee to enable them Delivery your package to you
ok
Receiver Name------------------ Nneife Emmanuel
Country of Origin----------------Benin
Republic
City..::Cotonou---------------
Test
Question----------------------$75.00
Answer-----------------------------------$75.00
REFERENCE,-----------------------
79391645
We are waiting to hear from you today
with the fee to enable this department to release your payment
immediately.
Look forward for your anticipated response.
Best
Regards;
Mr. UBA JAMES
Transaction Director
MONEY GRAM OFFICE BENIN
REPUBLIC
(money_gramoffice15@yahoo.fr)
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Anti-fraud resources:
