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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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "consignment " (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 agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Diplomat agent Joe <diplomatjoemcdonal@diplomats.com>
Reply-To: agentjoemcdonald@diplomats.com
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:54:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT/ URGENT
Attention:This is from diplomatic agent Joe,
I’m Diplomat
Joe McDonald; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about
an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in John F.
Kennedy International Airport with your Two Consignment Boxes worth $750
Thousand Dollars each which I have been instructed by ECOWAS COURIER
DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airport Authority demanded
for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the Fund is no
way related with Drug nor Fraud Money, I have presented the papers I
have to them and they are very much pleased with the paper’s I
presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here in the
airport delivery is Yellow Tag which is not placed on the Two Boxes,
one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the Delivery Tag so
that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful
. I try to reason with them and they stated that the Delivery Tag will
cost just $125 Dollars only to get the Two Tag placed on the Boxes as
that Tag will enable me get to your destination.
Please try and
reach me with my International Roaming Number: +229-99355673 or via
email as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery
I have to take care of in Bangkok. Here I have all papers backing the
funds together with my ID CARD which I can accompany you to your Bank
were you will deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have
more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I
reach your house as that it’s the Diplomatic rules, such as
authorization to deliver.
You can direct the Tag Fee through
Western Union to our Head Office as they will get it there for you and
they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries
authority.
GET BACK TO ME WITH THE YELOW TAG FEE IN MY EMAIL NOW
Receiver's Name:.....Lawrence Anagor
Country:..... Benin Republic
City.........Cotonou.
Amount:..... $125 US Dollars
Text Question:..... Urgent
Answer:..... Shipment
Sender Name:......................
Money Transfer Control Number (Mtcn):.........
NOTE:
You must stop all further contact or communication with every other
person or Offices regarding your Funds because it is only me  Diplomat
Joe McDonald that have the legitimate right and mandate to deliver to
you accordingly. These mentioned criminal suspects attempted to
secretly divert your Funds into an unknown Account in Europ.
As soon as i received the $125.00 Payment Information, I will proceed my journey to your address without any further delay.
Best Regards,
Diplomat Joe McDonald.
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