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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "REV.DR.DAVID MARK" <postageunit@blumail.org>
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:01:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE POSTAGE OF YOUR BANK DRAFT
ATTN, TO YOU DEAR BENEFICIARY
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS A BANK
DRAFT IN THIS OFFICE DEPOSITED BY MINISTRY OF FINACER BENIN REPUBLIC ON THE 191th OF NOVEMBER 2010.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT AND IS TO BE POSTED TO YOU.WE HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR CONFIRMABLE BANK DRAFT WHICH CONTAINS THE
SUM OF $250,000.00 UNITED STATE DOLLARS AND SOME VITAL
DOCUMENTS.
SO KINDLY GET BACK TO THIS OFFICE(REGULAR MAIL
POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC) TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING IN THIS
SERVICE.
YOU ARE TO CONFIRM AND PROVIDE
TO US YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS BELOW.
YOUR FULL NAME..........
YOUR
COUNTRY............
YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS.....
YOUR DIRECT
PHONE.......
NOTE: THAT YOU ARE TO PAY FOR THE DUTY STAMP FEE OF $55USD.YOU
ARE ADIVSE TO
SEND THE DUTY STAMP FEE THROUGH WESTERN
UNION OR MONEY GRAM TO THE POST OFFICE WITH THE NAME BELOW AND FORWARD
THE PAYMENT IFORMATION TO US
FOR IMMEDIATE STAMP OF YOUR POSTALPACKAGE BANK DRAFT.
Receiver Name......Augustine P. Mbanefo
Country......Benin
Republic
City....Cotonou
Question....for what
Answer.....duty
stamp
AMOUNT.....$55 USD
NOTE:THAT EVERY CLAIMS HAS AN EXPIRYING PERIOD OF FOURTEEN
WORKING DAYS(14DAYS) SO YOU HAVE DO THAT VERY URGENTLY TO AVOID EXPIRATION
REGARD'S
REV.DR.DAVID MARK
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Anti-fraud resources:
