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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "custommonetary@gala.net" (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.
- 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: office file <office------data48@att.net>
Reply-To: custommonetary@gala.net
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:21:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: MESSAGE FROM CUSTOMS SERVICES U.S.A AUTHORITY
CUSTOMS SERVICES U.S.A AUTHORITY COUNTRY
DIRECTOR OFFICE IN CHARFE.
DR.GEORGE H. BOBBY .
                                  Â
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Attention My Dear,
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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 17/01/2011 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,
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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.
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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 hiding 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.
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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 CARD 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.
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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 $190 USD and also bear in mind that you have been given (6 working days) to raise the total amount of $190 USD to obtain those hiding documents and then send to our accountant officer in Benin republic Hycent Onye)
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With the below information to effect the needed payment via western union or Via Money Gram .
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Receiver Name ... Hycent Onye
Country Benin republic.
Amount $190 USD Dollars
Text Question . Who is great?
Answer.God
SENDER NAME
MTCN
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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( custommonetary@gala.net ) but above the (6 working days) to get the amount sent,the consignment box will be confiscated For the main time.
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BEST REGARDS
DR. GEORGE H. BOBBY
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