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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- federalreserve43@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: BARR JASON WHITE <monday_nwabueze@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: federalreserve43@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:39:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?RnJvbSBmZWRlcmFsIHJlc2VydmVzIHZlcmlmaWNhdGlvbiBvZmZpY2UgYmVu?=
=?utf-8?B?aW4gcmVwL3VyZ2VudCBjb21wbHkgd2l0aCB0aGUgJDkwIHRvZGF5IHRvIGVu?=
=?utf-8?B?YWJsZSBNcnMuQWxlbiBSb2dlciB0byBsZWF2ZSB3aXRoIHlvdXIgcGFja2Fn?=
=?utf-8?B?ZSB3aXRoIHRoZSBuZXh0IGZsaWdodOKAjw==?=
ATTENTION:
Note
that we the federal reserves verification office benin rep has over
come and finanlize that your package which has been on hold in this
office since all this while,why we are on our verification on the
package and it surcess to get to your home address as it has been
already marped by his Chief.Mr.Thomas Yayi Boni and his vice president
Mr. Pascal Irenee Koupaki that your package should be deliver to you
this time before the end of this year project so bear it in mind that
you are required to send us the sum of $90 been the charge fee duringÂ
the process of the verivication of your package so all you need to do
now is to go ahead and send us the $90 today to enable the agent
Mrs.Alen Roger to leave this office with the next flylight once you
send the $90 today ..
So
send the $90 today via western union to enable Mrs.Alen Roger to leave
with your package with the next flight to deliver your box so try and
make sure that you send the $90 once you receive this mail
Send the $90 via western union or moneygram today with this below information:
RECEIVE NAME:::::::::::::::TANSI JOHN
OBIEDO
COUNTRY:::::::::::::::BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:::::::::::::::COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION::::::;;
BELIEVE
ANSWER:::::::::::::Â MY WORD
Amount:::::::::::::::$90.00Â
We are looking forward to hear from you back with the payment information of the $90.
Yours in service
BARR JASON WHITE
Email...federalreserve43@yahoo.fr
Address..hg5496 &jms akpata close.
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Anti-fraud resources:
