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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:
- 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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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.
- 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.
- wu.benin@africamail.com (Africamail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS DEBRA GILLS <mrsodebless@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 09:07:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Good News From Mrs Debra Gills
Hello Beneficiary
The office of the Presidency and America Security leading Team,America Representative Embassy has this afternoon issued and instruction that all Foreign Beneficiary should be paid off before the commencement of the next fiscal year.
Based on this, the Presidency has cut down the Transfer Charges to $48.00 to be affordable by the ordinary person and to ensure that all beneficiaries can now afford to pay for their transfer charges and court signing fee.You are therefore advised to follow this directive and send your transfer charge of $48.00 so that your MTCN number to pick up your daily payment of $3500.00 will be issued to you today for instant transfer of your $600,000.00 Please contact the Director of Electronic Transfer for reconfirmation of your particulars (Receiver's Name, Address and Contact Phone numbers) The President and borad of director has gazette this payment and approved fund has been inputted into our secure e-transfer system awaiting your prompt response for further transfer process through WU TRANSFER Online Transfer System. Our secure e-transfer link and your login detail will be sent to you as soon as the Transfer charge is confirmed. DO NOT ASK FOR DEDUCTION
because this payment has been gazette by the Presidency & Authority and as such, no deduction or addition can be imposed on it as the code intact is to transfer directly to you the beneficiary.
NOTE that failure to comply with this directive on will leave us with no option than to cancel your payment and refer your fund to the Treasury as†unclaimed"
for the information.
RECONFIRM YOUR FULL INFORMATION TO HIM FOR MORE INQUIRY.
Your name.......
Country......
Phone no.......
Address/city........
Age/sex.....
Contact person
Mr.Morris Tommy
E-mail:wu.benin@africamail.com
Below is the information where you can send western union the fee throuth western union to allow them release of your payment immediately.
Receiver------------ Mr.Emmanuel Anukwu
Location City---------Cotonou-Benin
Country-----------------Benin Rep
Text Question--------How Long?
Answer-----------------Today
Amount--------------$48.00 Only
Furthermore you advised to call him as the instruction was passed that
within 24hours without hearing from you. Count your payment
canceled.Number to call is below listed Manager Director Office of
release order: +229-98-66-72110 E-mail addresses
(wu.benin@africamail.com Contact person Mr.Morris Tommy
 Thanks update me as soon as you have contacted him.
Best Regard.Mrs Debra Gills
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