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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cost of transfer" (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.
- 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.
- bank.diamond29@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. Fred S. Williams" <kayitaesp@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: bank.diamond29@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:05:47 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FROM DIAMOND BANK PLC BENIN REPUBLIC TREAT AS URGENT.
THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE (303)
Welcome to Diamond Bank Plc Benin
Republic.
ADDRESS
C175 AKPAKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS
COTONOU.WEB:http://site.diamond.com/
EMAIL :(bank.diamond29@yahoo.com.hk
)
DEAR BENEFICIARY ,
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DIAMOND BANK AND
AUDITOR HERE HAS TODAY CONCLUDED TO ACCEPT ONLY $73 TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
CONFIRM $6.2M INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITH OUT FURTHER DELAY.
MY GOD KNOWS THAT I AM VERY SINCERE TO YOU IN THIS TRANSACTION
THEREFORE YOU WILL SURELY RECEIVE $6.2M INTO YOUR ACCOUNT ONCE YOU COMPLY WITH
$73 AS THE COST OF TRANSFER (COT).
PLEASE MY DEAR FRIEND, YOU NEED TO ACT
URGENT TO SEND ONLY $73 BECUASE THAT WILL BE ONLY FEE THAT YOU ENTITLE TO PAY
FOR RECEIVING YOUR $6.2M WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY. I AS MIGHT HAVE TOLD YOU
BEFORE , I AM A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN 26 YEARS AGO THEREFORE CAN NEVER NEVER LET
MY FELLOW HUMAN BEING DOWN AS RESULT OF FEAR OF GOD IN ME .
AS SOON AS YOU PAY ONLY $73 YOU CONFIRM TELEX REPORTS $6.2M WITHOUT
ANY TROUBLE OR DELAY TO YOU.
PAY THE ONLY $73 ON DETAILS STATED
BELLOW:
RECEIVER'S NAME: MR. ELIAS EMEKA
LOCATION: BENIN
REPUBLIC.SENDER'S NAME AND LOCATION:..................?
QUESTION:TIME
?
ANSWER:URGENT .
TEN DIGTS MTCN.............?.
HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS REPLY
.
SINCERELY YOURS,
DR. Fred S. Williams ,
DIRECTOR Diamond
BANK
COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC
EMAIL :(bank.diamond29@yahoo.com.hk
)
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Anti-fraud resources:
