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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:
- "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.
- federalreserve33@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: BARR FRANCIS DANKER <emma.okpo1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: federalreserve33@rediffmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 22:57:39 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: From federal reserves verification office benin republic.
Attn:
Note that we the federal reserves verification office benin rep has over come and finanlize that your package which has been on hold in this office since all this while,why we are on our verification on the package and it surcess to get to your home address as it has been already marped by his Chief.Mr.Thomas Yayi Boni and his vice president Mr. Pascal Irenee Koupaki that your package should be deliver to you this time before the end of this year project so bear it in mind that you are required to send us the sum of $49 been the charge fee during the process of the verivication of your package so all you need to do now is to go ahead and send us the $49 today to enable the agent Mrs.Alen Roger to leave this office with the next flight once you send the $49 today ..
So send the $49 today via western union to enable Mrs.Alen Roger to leave with your package with the next flight to deliver your box so try and make sure that you send the $49 once you receive this mail
Send the $49 via western union today with this below information:
Receiver name..Obiedo Francis
Address...cotonou/benin rep
Text question.....My
Answer........belong
Amount.....$49
Ssender name....????
Mtcn....????
We are looking forward to hear from you back with the payment information of the $49.
Yours in service
BARR FRANCIS DANKER
Email...federalreserve33@rediffmail.com
Address..hg5496 &jms akpata close.
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Anti-fraud resources:
