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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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- federalofbureauinvestigation@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation <officefile.officefileoffice.of@gmail.com>
Reply-To: federalofbureauinvestigation@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 14:53:26 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Good Day beneficiary: Last warning!!! From FBI Bureau
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Counter-terrorism Division and Cyber Crime Division
J. Edgar. Hoover Building Washington DC
Good Day
beneficiary: Last warning!!! From FBI Bureau
We have been
inspection every single transaction you made since last year until this 2011
and you have to know that we are also working to make sure your funds which are
suppose to be delivered to you and also bear in mind that what ever you
emailing us will be forward to the court.
Also we are hereby
to notified by the federal bureau of investigation Cotonou department of the insult you imposed
on them by failing to comply by their regulation.
Your full
residential address has been forwarded to us for your immediate arrest to face
your charge but I deemed it fit to give you one more chance to save yourself
from this mess.
We have been told
that you have failed to dance by the rule of the FBI which will warrant 2 years
jail sentence. Now I john Francis Pikus the special Agent in charge of the FBI
Albany department I am giving you 24 working hours to effect the payment of the
$150.00 usd. To the FBI in republic
of Benin (FBI SECURITY)
with the information written below:
Receiver: Michael Okwuchi
Country to send: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test Q: Urgent
Answer: Yes
Amount: $150.dollars
Mtcn Number.........
You have to try as
much as you can and make this payment today so that your funds will be
delivering immediately to your destination without any problem.
You have to stop
every transaction you are communicating with other organization to avoid delay
on the processing of your funds.
Note that you? if
you fail to stick with my advice or any delay will lead to us coming directly
to your home address at any time, so try
and dance by the rule and get back to me with good understanding and payment information to enable me do
favour on your goodness.
Special Agent in
hare WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535;
Mr John Francis
Pikus
E-Mail=(federalofbureauinvestigation@yahoo.fr)
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Anti-fraud resources:
