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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:
- "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)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mba Bean <mbabean@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:16:57 +0900 (KST)
Subject: CUSTOMS SERVICES U.S.A AUTHORITY COUNTRY
CUSTOMS
SERVICES U.S.A AUTHORITYÂ COUNTRY
DIRECTOR
OFFICE IN CHARFE.
DR. GEORGE H. BOBBY
.
                                  Â
Â
Attention My Dear Nancy,
Â
We are here to
inform you today the reason why your ATM CARD have not been able to
deliver to your doorstep and its general advice to the entire customer
to this
US custom
office because after the meeting held yesterday time 10:21
AM date
16/01/2011 together with his Excellency (Hon.Dr. Boni Yayi) the
president of
Benin republic been the originator of your ATM CARD sign by the ic3 authority and the
office of the
committee in Benin republic to release the power upon this
transaction,
Â
And we both finds
out the reason you have not yet receive your belonging property which
you paid
for it for the longtime now and the solution have authentically be given
to the
rightful confirmation beneficiary of these said ATM CARD.
Â
Therefore we have
be inform by the inland
revenue
service that for so many year now which you have not
receive your ATM CARD from African due to some hidingÂ
documents This message may
come to you as warning to stop sending money little by little to African
because
it cannot help you to get your ATM CARD deliver to your
destination.
Â
Therefore note that
this custom office In USA have an idea that there’s some hiding
documents which
is about 12certificate to obtain from this custom before your ATM CARDÂ
will leave this airport
authority and will not be stop until it get to your doorstep
besides we
are doing this to avoid you been scam and also to help you by our effort
so that
the ATM CARD will deliver to you and I swear that no American citizen
will be scam again as far as I DR. GEORGE H.
BOBBY are concern you will get what
belong
to you ok.
Â
Then be advice that
we counted those hiding documents that makes you not receiving your ATM
CARD and the total and final amount is the sum of $250 USD and also bear
in mind
that you have been given (6 working days) to raise the total amount of
$250 USD
to obtain those hiding documents and then send to our accountant officer
in
Benin republic Emma Obala )
Â
With the below
information to effect the needed payment via westernunion .
Â
Receiver Name ...
Emma Obala
Country Benin
republic.
Amount $250 USD Dollars
Text
Question
. Am I sure?
Answer. Yes
SENDER
NAME
MTCN
Â
We await your anxious reply
with when the
amount can be sent and if there’s any question you can ask direct to
this e-mail
(custom@blumail.orgÂ
)Â
but above the (6 working
days) to get the amount sent ,the consignment box will be confiscated
For the
main time.
Â
BEST REGARDS
DR. GEORGE H. BOBBY
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