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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:
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.
- zneithbank_plc@yahoo.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ATM CARD FORM <jerryfox03@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: ATM CARD FORM <zneithbank_plc@yahoo.pl>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:04:08 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: Visa card ATM card number: 4061 7300 0035 0983
BENEFICIARY:,
With
regards to your draft deposited in our bank , we wish to inform you
that instructions was passed to our bank to effect onward payment to you
through our ATM CARD payment system . We hereby assure you that your
fund is very Legit and you can withdraw your fund in any
ATM MACHINES around the globe at the maximum rate of $2,500.00 Per Hour and you can withdraw $20.000.00 Per-day.
We
will issue you a new PIN/ACCESS CODE which you will be using to
withdraw your fund.We hereby inform you that the Visa card ATM card
number: 4061 7300 0035 0983 worth $2.800.000.00 has been credited in
your favour as the first part payment of your inheritance fund which has
been delayed by these officers who claim to be in position of your
fund. Therefore you are warned to stop any further communication with
anybody concerning your inheritance fund.
Once we
get the delivery fee on your behalf. you are having your ATM Card as
soon as possible . we have informed our delivery agent about this so we
are right now waiting for you to send the amount of $105 today so that
first thing tomorrow morning we will send your information to the
delivery agent so that they will bring it to your home address.
Send
the money via western union with this informations. you are advice to
fill the ATM CARD FORM and also we attach a copy of your Visa card so
that you can view it in the attach file
Sender's Name:..........
Receiver's Name:................ Paul Obioroah
Text Question:.................. What Colour
Answer:.................. Red
City/Country: .................Cotonou Benin Republic.
MTCN:................
Amount:........ $105
Note
that we have no legal right to deduct or add to the value of your funds
because your payment has already been keyed into the system for final
transfer, thus the compliance with this condition this payment will
reach you within 48 banking hour or less.
As soon as
you pay the fee of $105 call me on phone +229-66160544 to let me know
and forward the payment information to me together with the ATM CARD
Form .
Expecting your urgent call from now.
Dr.Peter White
General Manager ATM DEPARTMENT
(CBWAN)
Email zneithbank_plc@yahoo.pl
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Anti-fraud resources:
