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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "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 delivery" ("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.
- 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.
- africardatmcenter7@post.com (Post; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr James colby <margaretloughrey983@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Mr James colby <cardcenter001@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 02:17:45 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I succeeded in registering the Credited ATM VISA CARD with
AFRICARD ATM DEPARTMENT
 I'm MR JAMES COLBY, I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Cash Fund of $1.5 Million Dollars which was APPROVED since last year but I did not hear from you since then because of the impossibility of your fund to be transfer through Western Union and Money Gram Office, Because of that I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful in getting your Credited ATM VISA CARD of $1.5million Usd) I deposited the Credited ATM VISA CARD with AFRICARD ATM DEPARTMENT Company here to avoid expiry since i could not get you on phone. Just yesterday I succeeded in registering the Credited ATM VISA CARD with AFRICARD ATM DEPARTMENT Company to make sure it will be among the parcel that will be deliver this week or next week. Remember many beneficiary has fall victim to internet scam because they are stubborn and refuse to obey official instruction. What you have to do is to contact Dr MR TONY CHRIST on the information below for further direction of what you should do next;
NOTE :AFRICARD ATM OFFICE WILL USE THEIR BEST DIPLOMATIC DELIVERY AGENT TO RENDER TO YOU YOUR SERVICE EFFECTIVELY.
ATTN; Dr MR TONY CHRIST
E-mail: ( africardatmcenter7@post.com )
Tel:Phone +2348033071770
AFRICARD ATM DEPARTMENTÂ Company
Benin Republic West Africa.
I paid all the charges except their delivery charges of which they said the beneficiary should pay to ensure them that
the parcel is going directly to the owner to avoid sending it to wrong person. Please indicate the registration code
(011827) to Dr MR TONY CHRIST when contacting or calling him.
Please be warred to be very cooperative with the instructions of Africard office to enable you receive your ATM CARD before the end of the year , and avoid any delay before some internet impostor will get to know about this your fund.
Take note that you are the one to Take care of your ATM CARD delivery obligation as the rightful owner of your fund . Apart from the delivery obligation , Their is no other financial obligation you will be asked to pay, if any one ask you to pay any other fee kindly contact me for official report to the security agent .
Thanks for your patience.
MR JAMES COLBY
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Anti-fraud resources:
