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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. )
- "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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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 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: Mohammed Rasheed <rashm00090@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 10:22:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FedEx Delivery of your ATM Master Card Contract Inheritants Funds.
Attention Sir/Madam,
We wish to notify you that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has
been in contact with the World Bank yesterday to verify the legality of
this your transaction and every documentations and bank deposit statements
were forwarded to them for investigation and confirmation.
We strongly believe that you shall be hearing back from them as soon as
they confirm this transaction FBI to enable us completes this transaction.
Sequel to this effect, Your ATM DEBIT CARD has been Successfully Loaded
with a part payment of your Inheritance/Contract/Lottery Winning Funds
Valued at the sum of $2.5M USD (Two Million, Five Hundred United States
Dollars), however an Instruction was passed over to this office from the
office of the chairman African Union on financial matters that the funds
which has been loaded into your ATM DEBIT CARD should not be tampered with
by any governmental official since it has been approved by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation Department of the United States that the exact
funds Must be Delivered to your designated address via the FedEx Courier
Service without any deduction made on it. The FBI and the African union
have agreed to have the card delivered to you through no other mince than
FedEx and the instruction for the delivery is stated below as you are
advised to read carefully.
(FedEx DELIVERY)
Approved Mailing cost $
155.00 00.00
Insurance by IRS $ 00.00 00.00
Card processing fee $
00.00 00.00
TOTAL $ 155.00
00.00
Be informed that your ATM DEBIT Card is Already Activated and ready for
delivery to your Designated home address but the only delay is the cost
that is associated to the delivery by FedEx which you are expected to send
via western union/Money Gram money transfer today to our distinguished
accounting officer as the information is stated below.
WESTERN UNION/ MONEY GRAM PAYMENT INFORMATION:-
Receiver's Name............. Livinus Ireoha
Receiver's Address............
Lagos-Nigeria.
Text question....................
what for?
Text
Answer........................
Card
Amount to send ..................USD $155.00
(delivery cost)
MTCN???????..
Do reconfirm urgently the following information so that we can serve you
better:
1.Your full name as you wish to apear on the ATM Card
2. Present contact Address
3. Day time and mobile telephone numbers
On the receipt of the USD$ 155.00 Dollars delivery cost will enable Your
ATM DEBIT CARD be sent to you via FedEx courier service with the
Tracking/Confirmation Numbers sent to you via E-mail so that you can
monitor the arrival of the card to your designated home address.
You are hereby advised to make the Payment for the Delivery of Your ATM
DEBIT CARD as soon as you receive this email to the listed Payment
Information, which has been provided to you above.
Call me immediately on +234 806-440-5529 as soon as you are back from
making the payment today.
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN!!!
MR. RASHEED MOHAMMED.
CALL ME ON +234-806-440-5529
CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN PAYMENT RESOLUTION PANEL
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