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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:
- "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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- bendonald97@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ben Donald <israel@aviso.ci>
Reply-To: Ben Donald <bendonald97@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 02:14:38 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Please I Need Your Urgent Call Right Now::806) 341-9280
I'm Diplomatic Agent Mr. Ben Donald, I have been trying to reach you on
your Email about four hours now, just to inform you about my successful
arrival in Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport Texas,USA, with your two boxes of consignment worth $3.6 Million Dollars which I have been instructed by I.C COURIER EXPRESS DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to
you. The Airport authorities demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove
to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have
presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the
papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the
airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport
Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the
airport immediately and make my delivery successful .I try to reason with
them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $76 Dollars only to get
the two tag placed on the boxes as that tag will enable me exit at your doorstep.
You Also Advice To Reconfirm Your Delivery Address Such As to avoid delivery to wrong person.
1- Your Full Name
2- Your Delivery Address
3- Your Contact Telephone Number
4- Your Occupation
5- Your Identification (Passport number or ID Card number)
6- Your Nearest Airport
Below is the information where the payment of $75 will be transfer to
Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic where the Tag Deliver will be issue in your name.
Receiver Name:: Anthony Okafor
Country Benin republic.
Amount $76 US Dollars
Text Question. A?
Text Answer B.
SENDER NAME
MTCN
Email me the payment information as soon as you made the payment available to
the name of Mr. Anthony Okafor in Federal Ministry of Finance Send Me An Sms.
Thanks
Mr Ben Donald
Diplomatic Agent Call Me Now
Tel No: 806) 341-9280
Email :( bendonald97@yahoo.fr)
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Anti-fraud resources:
