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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 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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "lagos" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. JOHN EMMA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohn0220@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2017 20:50:20 -0400
Subject: ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER
ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER
33 OKOTA ROAD LAGOS/NIGERIA
Attention To You My Dear,
Please what is going on? I hope and believe there is no problem. I am writing to let you know that your ATM Card that worth USD$8.5 M, Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars is ready to be delivered to you and we are only waiting to receive the reconfirmation of your home address where you want your ATM card to be delivered and Telephone number.
We already have your home address here but still want you to re-confirm it to me so that we can check if it is correct with what we have here and to avoid sending your ATM card to the wrong person. You are required to reconfirm the below information to enable us proceed with the shipment now as directed by the authorities.
Full Name:
Mailing Address:
Your Age:
Direct Phone/ Mobile Number:
Also remember that it will cost you only $50 for delivery...Please I want to assure you that the only fee you will pay to receive your ATM Card is $50 no more.. Immediately the $50 is received from you, your Card shall be delivered to you without delay...BELOW IS THE INFORMATION FOR YOU TO SEND THE $50 WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM
RECEIVER: IBEAWUCHI PASCAL
ADDRESS: LAGOS NIGERIA
AMOUNT: $50.00
FROM ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER
MR. JOHN EMMA
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Anti-fraud resources:
