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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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: MARTINS JOHNSON <brownchr1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: martinsjohn111@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 09:56:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FINAL RELEASE OF YOUR PAYMENT OF $1.5M IS TODAY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY MY GOOD FRIEND,
COURIER COMPANY UPDATE ME TODAY THAT YOUR PACKAGE HAVE STAY LONG THAN WHAT THEY EXPECTED AND THEY WANT YOU TO PROVE SOME SERIOUSNESS TO THE CHARGE FEE REQUIRED TO GET THE PACKAGE SHIPPED TO YOU. I KNOW THINGS ARE HARD NOW IN TIMES OF FINANCIAL BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS PACKAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE PACKAGE CONTAIN IS $1.5 MILLION USD AND YOUR DAILY LIMIT WITHDRAW IS $10,000 PER DAY PROGRAM BY THE INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SYSTEM.
THE CHARGE FEE REQUIRED TO PAY THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE IS $59.00 AND THIS IS THE LAST FEE REQUIRED IF ANY OTHER FEE OCCURS I WILL MAKE SURE COURIER COMPANY RETURN THE MONEY YOU HAVE SENT PREVIOUSLY SO YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL MAKE SURE SHIPMENT TAKE PLACE ONCE THE CHARGE FEE OF $59.00 IS PAID TO US.
THE PAYMENT INFORMATION OF ORDEAL O. JOHN TO SEND THE $59.00 AND ONCE PAYMENT IS MADE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE PAYMENT CONFIRMATION DETAILS SO I CAN FORWARD IT TO COURIER COMPANY SO THE CHARGE FEE CAN BE PAID AND SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE ONCE THIS IS DONE OK.
RECEIVER NAME====ALEXANDER U.IGBEKE.
COUNTRY==========BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY=============COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION====TODAY
ANSWER===========TODAY
SENDER NAME:??
CONFIRMATION MTCN NUMBER:??
SENDER ADDRESS :??
AMOUNT SENT:?
ONCE PAYMENT IS MADE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE PAYMENT CONFIRMATION DETAILS REQUIRED BELOW SO SHIPMENT CAN TAKE PLACE. AND I WILL FORWARD IT TO COURIER COMPANY SO SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY.
NOTE: THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOUR PACKAGE CARD CONTAIN IS $1.5 MILLION USD AND THIS INCLUDE INTEREST UP TILL DATE. YOUR DAILY LIMIT WITHDRAW IS $10,000 PER DAY. ONCE YOUR PACKAGE IS SHIPPED AND YOU RECEIVE IT YOU WILL RECOVER ALL YOU HAVE SPENT. HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY AND REMEMBER ALL YOU NEED TO SEND IS $59.00 ONLY TO COMPLETE EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU.
MR.MARTINS JOHNSON.
TRANSACTION ONLINE HEAD OFFICE GENERAL MANAGER BENIN REPUBLIC.
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Anti-fraud resources:
