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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:
- "certificate fee" (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. )
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- 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.
- 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.
- centralbank778@safe-mail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Director Mark uba <dir.solomon@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Director Mark uba <centralbank778@Safe-mail.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2014 16:34:18 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I have deposited the check to the ATM OFFICE
 Good Day,I have deposited the check to the ATM OFFICE. All you have to do is to contact them With this Email:(centralbank778@Safe-mail.net) they will give you direction on  how you will be receiving your ATM card. My agreement with them is $2.5USD daily until the whole of $3.5USD is exhausted.  You are not expected to pay for the delivery fee or stamp duty fee or any certificate fee because all the fee is already Paid for you, except activation fee. The only fee you will send to them before you ATM MASTER CARD is delivered to you is activation fee which i did not know the amount.when you contact the ATM office, try to ask them how much is activation fee of your ATM CARD.Your are free to call us here +229 98914872 for more explanation. the contact person is Director mark uba,email them with your full address such as
 Your full name_____________ Your address_______________ Your country______________ Your ag___________________ Your Sex_________________ Your occupation________ Your Phone number_____
for you information Please change your email password before replying to this email for security reason contact with all your information before asking how is the activation fee for security reason and also demand for information where you can send the money for the activation fee once again contact person Director Mark uba  email: centralbank778@Safe-mail.net phone: +229 98914872
Thank youMrs. Victoria Francesca
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Anti-fraud resources:
