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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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- dbankbenin97@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Gayleatha B.Brown" <officce.office8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dbank_benin@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:22:41 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Hello My Dear
Hello My Dear
This
is Mrs Gayleatha B.Brown the Former United States Ambassador again , I
was searching for some files that i left in this office and found out
that you have not received your funds, So my dear I know you sent money
to some group of criminals but later they did not deliver your funds, I
want to promise you by the name of God that once you send this fee you
are going to receive your funds without further delays and also this is
the only fee you have to pay once you send the $69.00 just leave
everything for me okay, I will make sure you receive your funds okay.
So
you should just walk down any western union around you and send the
money so that you can start receiving your funds without further delays
In
addition, I am hereby giving your every guarantee and also 100 %
percent assurance that this is the only money you will pay payable and
after you pay it you will start receive your fund immediately without
any setback, so try to send this fee today with the provided information
below.
1. Receiver name:............. MR.OKECHUKWU CHIBIKE
2. Country:............. Benin Republic West Africa.
3. City :............... Cotonou.
4...Test question:....How Long
5. Test answer:......Today.
6..Amount ..........US$69.00
I will wait to hear from you today with the mtcn number.
United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
E-MAIL:(dbankbenin97@yahoo.com)
Mrs Gayleatha B.Brown
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Anti-fraud resources:
