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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- diamod_atmp2010@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "HAKIM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diamod_atmp2010@hotmail.fr>
Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 17:59:50 +0100
Subject: URGET PICK UP YOUR FIRST TRANSFER NOW
ATTN BENEFICIARY:
No charges the only money you have to pay now is $75 we give bonus of $75 to help you as our costomer in other to eable you receive your fund , so if you want to receive your fund now you have to go ahead now and send $75 to enable us release your fist payment of $5000 to you as soon as you receive this email ,the bonus will last only this week after this week all the payment will be cancel .and the fund is $2.8million USA DOLLAR so you try and send the money today with this informention given to you below.
RECEIVER NAME ------ MR LAWSON CHIWETARA
CITY--------------------COTONOU
COUNTRY---------------BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION--------HONEST
TEST ANSWER-------------PAYMENT
AMOUNT-------------------$75 US DOLLAR ONLY
Email; (diamod_atmp2010@hotmail.fr)
Once you send this money then call me or email us the mtcn with this unmber +22999947557now ok.
Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process your payment:
Receiver name=========
Country=============
City================
Tel================
Test question=========
Answer=============
You can trick this information to confirm it
Mtcn Number; 2663838268
First Senders;KHALIFA
Second Senders; HAKIM
Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Edward Hillary
MINISTER OF FINANCIAL . FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
