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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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- post_o2012@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Peter Udoji" <jeerry_lewiseze88@yahoo.dk>
Reply-To: post_o2012@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 20:04:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN.
FROM REGULAR MAIL
POST OFFICE BENIN.
POST OFFICE
ADDRESS: BARNES ROAD P.O
BOX12720.
COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC.
post_o2012@hotmail.fr
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS AN ATM
CARD IN THIS OFFICE THAT IS DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION
BODY ON THE 9th OF THIS MONTH.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT
AND IS TO BE POSTED TO YOU. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR
CONFIRMABLE ATM CARD WHICH CONTAINS THE SUM OF USD $3.5, MillionsUNITED
STATE DOLLARS AND SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS.
SO KINDLY GET
BACK TO THIS OFFICE (REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC) TO AVOID
FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS SERVICE.
YOU ARE TO CONFIRM AND
PROVIDE TO US YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS BELOW.
YOUR FULL
NAME..........
YOUR COUNTRY............
YOUR CITY...............
YOUR
POSTAL ADDRESS.....
YOUR DIRECT PHONE........
NOTE:
THAT YOU ARE TO PAY FOR THE DUTY STAMP FEE OF $95USD. YOU ARE ADVISE TO SEND THE
DUTY STAMP FEE THROUGH
WESTERN UNION TO THE POST OFFICE WITH OUR PRACTICAL OFFICER'S NAME BELOW
AND FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO THE POST OFFICE IMMEDIATE
STAMP OF YOUR ATM CARD.
RECEIVER'S NAME....... PETER
UDOJI
COUNTRY.....BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY....COTONOU
QUESTION....HOW
LONG
ANSWER.....TODAY
AMOUNT......$95USD
SENDER'S NAME........?
NOTE: THAT EVERY CLAIMS HAS AN
EXPIRYING PERIOD OF SEVEN WORKING DAYS (7DAYS) SO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT VERY
URGENT TO AVOID EXPIRATION.
THANKS
YOUR BEST REGARD'S,
MR. PETER UDOJI
.
post_o2012@hotmail.fr
ATTENTION THIS LETTER COME FROM OFFICE (REGULAR MAIL
POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC) TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS
SERVICE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
