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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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "moneygram1978@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- 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 International <orjisubk2@att.net>
Reply-To: moneygram1978@w.cn
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 07:53:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MONEY GRAM
P {
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UL {
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OL {
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Welcome
OFFICE OF MONEY
GRAM. COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC / ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU ROAD OPPOSITE
ANKPA TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU.
TEL: +229 6615 1491
E-MAIL: moneygram1978@w.cn
Attn:
Beneficiary,
This is to inform all our customers on the latest
developments concerning all the PAYMENT that remain in our possession that
(Money Gram) now offers a
special bonus to help all our customers who have abandoned their payment in our
custody because of high prize given to you earlier. In other words, we are now
asking that the associate have to pay only the sum of US$140.00 to receive all
their PAYMENT left in our custody.
Be informed that
after (5 days) you have not paid the US$140.00, then we return the funds to
avoid government problem or we will cancel the payment.
We will enter a
new project for the year and that is why we decided to help all our customers
before entering the draft new year. Be advised to send US$140.00 immediately if
you still wiiling to claim your payment so we can send your payment once we
receive the transfer fee because you will start receiveing your payment from
tomorrow morning by 11 o'clock our time here.
After payment of US$140.00
we will give you complete information to make your first payment of US$7.000.00
per GRAM MONEY TRANSFER. Send Money by Money Gram or Western Union Money
Transfer with the information
below:
Receiver Name:
Mr. John Onyi
Destination:
Cotonou, Benin Republic
Test Question:
How Are You? Fine.
Reference#
Sender's
Name:
THANKS for your support,
Peter
Oke
Manager foreign
operation
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Anti-fraud resources:
