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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. )
- "money-gram" (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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "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.
- 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.
- williamstanly965@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.William Stanly" <western_union10152@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: williamstanly965@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:39:07 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I am diplomat agent Dr.William Stanly
ood Day To You,
Dear
With sincerity,we apologies for the delaying of your two packages box that was labelled African Treasures in our departments I am agent Dr.William Stanly ; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival Mid way Airport Chicago with your two boxes of consignment which I have been instructed by our Company Fedex Courier Company to deliver to you and deposited by Mr Tony Mike Western union office benin republic i he said they want to surprise your package
The airport authority demanded for the legal back up papers to prove that the funds is no way related to drug nor money laundry which i did presented to them and they were very much pleased with the papers i presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the Indemnity Bond Certificate (IBC) and Anti Embezzlement Fund Certificate (AEFC) which is not placed on the packages ( Funds ), one of the Airport Authority has advise that I should get the Certificates so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery Successful Direct to your House Registered Address.
I try to reason with them and they stated that the two Certificates will cost You Sum of $87.59USD to get the two Certificates placed on the package because that Certificates will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference.
They have scanned the package and found out that the fund is 100% spendable and accepted by any bank in the whole world. So they only thing still keeping me here is the Certificates which is to be secured from our head office in Benin and send over here to be placed on the consignment boxes so as to enable me proceed to meet with you.
So you are hereby advised to send the $87.59USD through western union or money-gram to the information provided to you and get back to me with the pick up details so i can forward it to our head office for them to pick up the money, secure the Certificates and direct it over here to be placed on the package so as to enable me proceed to meet with you. I hope everything is well understood.
Below is the information to send the $87.59USD for the Certificates to be secured and send over to me here.
Sender's Name............
Receiver Name.............Amaechi Okonkwo.
Country................Benin Republic
City..................Cotonou
Text Question...........When
Text Answer.............Soon
Amount..................
MTCN......................
Please try and reach me with my international roaming number ( call me 3313335820 )( williamstanly965@yahoo.fr ).as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care in Bangk ok.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed. Please,
Regards,
Diplomat
Dr.William Stanly
I am diplomat agent Dr.William Stanly
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