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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- fed.ministryfinances@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "CAPT. DUBEST COLLINS" <fielnnely@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.western.un@tk.tc
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:46:05 -0500
Subject: HAPPY NEW FOR GOOD NEWS
Welcome to
Send Money Worldwide
Western Union Payments
Western Union®
RESIDENT
Send Money Worldwide
Send Money
The Board of Finance Minister Republic of Benin are here to notify you of your
payment inherited funds of $800.000.00. After the meeting held on 31th of 01/
2011. His excellence the PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF BENIN and his CABINET OFFICERS,
has instructed this Department to send your funds through western union money
transfer for easier receive of your inherited funds without any further delay.
THIS IS THE CONTACT EMAIL fed.ministryfinances@gmail.com
To avoid paying money to the Fraudstars that is going on through the global.
Therefore you are requested to send your name and address were you want your fund
to be send through Western Union the maximum amount you will be receiving each day
starting from tomorrow is the sum of $5000.00..
Also your are requested to send us the sum of $125 dollar for the RE-NEWING AND
RE-CONFIRMING your payment file that was deposited in this office with your name
and address bellow:
Beneficiary Name...................
Address......................
Tel.................................
Cell.................
As soon the required fee of $125 is send today for the RE-NEWING and RE-CONFIRMING
THE PAYMENT FILE of your fund you will start receiving your fund as from tomorrow.
Send the $125 dollar through western union with the name and address below:
Receiver Name ------------- MR ALEX ONYEKA
AMOUNT.................. ( $125 U S DOLLAS )
CITY---------------COTONOU REPBULIC OF BENIN.
questions------------ my food
Answer--------------- RICE
MTCN Control NUMBER----------------.
We wait to receive the western union payment information today.
Please if you are not the real beneficiary don't respond to this or delete it.
Sincerely,
MR. OYI GODSTIME
Western Union Payments
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Anti-fraud resources:
