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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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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 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.
- fedm-finance-bn2011@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: FEDERAL MINISTRY FINANCE <gopalbala57@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: fedm-finance-bn2011@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:58:09 +0530 (IST)
Subject: ATTENTION FUNDS BENEFICIARY
Attention Honourable Beneficiary
The Board of Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic are here to notify the receipt of your informations on how to send your payment through western union money transfer to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through the global as your e-mail address was found among the list of foreigners that have been lost there contract payment by Benin Republic Government,
The management and control of all finances of the Government as prescribed by the constitution of the country is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance to handle all foreign arias/debts.
We wish to warn you against some miscreants, hoodlums and touts who go about scamming innocent people by claiming to be who they are not and thereby tarnishing the image of this country called Benin Republic,
Please we advice you to stop any further communication with them as you are taking a very big risk and if it might interest you to know that His Exelence President of Federal Republic of Benin. Dr.Yayi Boni has instructed this Department of Financial Minister to send your funds through western union money transfer.
Note: there is a little fee to pay which can serve us to Re-new and Re-confirm your payment file from this finances Minister before you will starting to receiving your funds $1,250,000.00 United States Dollars from western union money transfer which will cost you the sum of $145.00.Dollar only.
We are not authorized to deduct the cost from your principle funds due to the comprehensive insurance cover against loss on transit.
Your payment will start immediately we received the fee from you but the maximum is $5000.000 United States Dollars Per Day.
Here is the Name of the protocal officer for the western union for you to make the payment ready and get back to us immediatly to enable us re-newing your payment file from this finances Minister,
Receiver name -------------------------MRS ONOCHIE KELLY
City----------------------------------------COTONOU
Country-----------------------------------BENIN REPUBLIC
Test Question-----------------------------HOW SOON
Answer--------------------------------IMMEDIATE
Amount-----------------------------------$145
HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN
DR.MARK O.JENNY
MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
E-mail/fedm-finance-bn2011@hotmail.com/
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Anti-fraud resources:
