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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "united state dollar" (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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
Fraud email example:
From: MONEY GRAM <"www."@blue.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MONEY GRAM <moneygraminternationalpost@post.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2017 21:27:53 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Money Gram Payment Available
Welcome to Money Gram Money Transfer
Send Money Worldwide office Department Of Money Gram Cotonou
Benin Republic ADDRESS: 1500 Akpakpa Avenue, Cotonou;
Benin Visit Us Via Website: http://www.moneygram.com
Reference #:94 57 53 79
I am writing to inform you that we have sent $4,000 Usd via Money Gram as we have been given the mandate to transfer your payment of the total compensation of $1.5million united state dollar via Money Gram.You are to track the first payment with our website below to confirm the availability of the below payment details: To track simply follow the instructions, click on the below website.
https://secure.moneygram.com/track
Reference #:94 57 53 79
Sender first Name:Mark
Last Name:Ambros
Be informed that your funds was placed on Hold; thereby you can not Pick it up immediately due to an instruction from IMF Office(International Monetary Fund) that you have to obtain the Fund Clearance Certificate (FCC). This Certificate is to Bear you the Original Beneficiary of the Fund and make a change of the Receiver to your Name, and this Certificate will cost $57 only, which are to be paid by you the beneficiary to make a documented change of Receiver to your name.
The total amount for everything is $57 we have tried our possible best to Indicate that this $57 should be deducted from your total prize but we found out that the funds have already been deposited to the IMF and cannot be accessed by anyone apart from you the winner, therefore you will be required to pay the required fee's to the Agent in-charge of this Certificate.
You are advice to direct the payment via money gram with bellow information.
Receiver Name............KANE OBY
Country..................Benin Republic
City..................... Cotonou
Text question............When
Text answer..............Now
Amount................$57
Mtcn ...............
Sender's name.....
Sender's....Country.......
Sender's...City........
Looking forward to receive the payment details to enable you start receiving your payment on daily basis ones the Certificate is obtain on your behalf.
Money Gram Agent; Dr Steven Uche
Tel: +229 94894269
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