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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "insurance 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. )
- "anti-drug certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- headofficebenin@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: TNT COURIER SERVICE <office101file@gmail.com>
Reply-To: headofficebenin@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:32:01 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FROM TNT COURIER SERVICE
TNT COURIER SERVICE
Offers Shipping Logistics
Management, Supply Chain
Management and to any where in the world. Company Address: Plot
5,GovTNT headofficebenin@gmail.com Way,Ayaboninsa Avenue,
COTONOU-BENIN.
(+229)
6656-7551
WELCOME
TO TNT COURIER DELIVERY
COMPANY:
TNT EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY LTD with worldwide delivery at
it's best. We are pleased to be at your service. TNT EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY
LTD we are here to serve you
better.
Good day dear
customver.
The TNT Courier Service, are
hereby this writing to inform you that the government of Benin has decided to
your inheritance fund through TNT Courier Service delivery. The government
deposited your inheritance ($2.7 M) of funds with this company yesterday with
your full name and home address where to delivery the package. For your
information, the government paid delivery
charges.
This is to bring to your
notice that the needful documents for this delivery has been issued in your name
accept one. We issued two needful document in your favor. Custom clearance
certificate Anti-drug certificate. But did not issue insurance document. I went
to Insurance Company this morning to issue an insurance document on your behalf.
And the Insurance Company is charging $79.00 to be paid before they provide us
with an insurance document.
I want to reassure you of
our willingness to delivery your package as soon as possible. Again, your
package is among of the packages we are about to dispatch this week. We tried
our best to obtain the two documents on your behalf. Now we want you to pay the
Insurance Company so they can provide us with insurance document so we can
dispatch your package. Once payment is made the Insurance Company will issue us
an insurance document. And we will then dispatch your package in 7hour
Insurance Company provide us the
document.
You are to pay the insurance
fee through western union with below information.
Receiver: John
Onyi
MTCN;
Sender name;
Amount; $79
Country:
Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Question: Transfer code
Answer: 00229
Forward the payment
information once payment is made. We are waiting on the payment details to
enable the Insurance Company provide us with needed document so we can dispatch
your package.
thanks you John Don
Fox
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Anti-fraud resources:
