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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. )
- "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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "elwin_ezekiel_7005@globomail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "elwin_ezekiel_7005@globomail.com" (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.
- 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 Elwin <goldken97@gmail.com>
Reply-To: elwin_ezekiel_7005@globomail.com
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 19:25:39 +0530 (IST)
Subject: GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY.
Attn:
I’m diplomat ELWIN EZEKIEL; I have been trying to reach you on yourtelephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successfularrival in Virginia VA International Airport with your two boxes ofconsignment worth One Million Dollars which I have been instructed byECOWAS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airportauthority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove tothemthat the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money,
I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are verymuchpleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that isstillkeeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed ontheboxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get thedeliverytag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make mydeliverysuccessful .I try to reason with them and they stated thedelivery tagwill cost us just $91 Dollars only to get the two tagplaced on theboxes as that tag will enable me
Please try and reach me with my telephone number +22998570581,
as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery Ihaveto take care of in Bangkok. Here are the papers backing thefundstogether with my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank wereyouwill deposit the fund Successfully with these papers. I have Imorevital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy whenIreach your house as that it’s the diplomatic rules, suchasauthorization to deliver.
You can direct the tag fee to ourHead Office as they will get it herefor you and they are entitled toreceive and make any payment to foreigncountries authority.GET BACK TO ME IN MY EMAILÂ NOW;Account Options (Â elwin_ezekiel_7005@globomail.com)
Receiver Name ;------Chukwuemeka Marcel .
Country ;---------Benin republic.
Amount ;---------$91 US Dollars
Text Question;-----Who is our saviour?
Answer &;---------The Lord Jesus.    Â
SENDER NAME;-----
MTCN;----
Regard
Diplomat Elwin
Emai l(elwin_ezekiel_7005@globomail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
