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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:
- "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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: Wilfred Agent <wilfredagent@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: agentemail6@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:04:58 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Call me uregnt 917 9655 549
I'm diplomat Wilfred Tawiah; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in John F K International Airport with your two boxes of consignment worth 10. Million Dollars, which I have been instructed by ECOWAS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful .I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $405 Dollars only to get the two tag placed on the boxes as
that tag will enable me
Please try as much as you can to reach me on Phone below 917 9655 549 as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in Bangkok.Below is the informatoon where the payment of $405 will be transfer to Federal Ministry of Finnace here in united states of American where the Tag Deliver will be issued in your name.
Receivers William Deburrs.
state Washington, D.C .
Amount $405 US Dollars
Text Question. Who is our saviour?
Answer &.The Lord Jesus.
SENDER NAME
MTCN
Email me the payment information as soon as you made the payment available to the name of William Deburrs in Federal Ministry of Justice their in charge of the Tag.
Regard
Diplomat Wilferd
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Anti-fraud resources:
