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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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: FBI Office <malaysiaairportauthority@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: fbi.government@rocketmail.com
Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2012 17:53:06 +0800 (CST)
Subject: From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Welcome to the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
http://albany.fbi..gov/E- mail FBI security
200 McCarty Avenue, Albany, Cotonou Benin RepublicTelephone: (+229) 99157393 </SPA Fax: (+229) 99157393
Attention Beneficiary:
We
have been watching every single transaction you made since last year
until this 2012 and you have to know that we are also working to make
sure your funds which are suppose To be delivered to you, and also bear
in mind what ever you emailing us will be forward to the court.
Also
we are hereby to notify by the federal bureau of investigation Cotonou
department of the insult you imposed on them by failing to comply by
their requirements. Your full residential address has been forwarded to
us for your immediate arrest to face your charge but I deemed it fit to
give you one more chance to save yourself from this mess.
We have
been told that you have failed to dance by the rule of the FBI which
will warrant 2 years jail sentence. Now I Mr.Hackett John Alvin the
special agent in charge of the FBI Albany department I am giving you 24
working hours to effect the payment of the $105.00 usd. To the FBI in
republic of Benin(fbi security) with the information written below:
RECEIVER NAME....OZOEMENA MICHEAL
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Test: In God?
Answer: We Trust
Amount: $105.dollars
Mtcn number.........
You
have to try as much as you can and make this payment so that your funds
will be delivered immediately to your destination.You have to stop
every transaction you are communicating with other organization to avoid
delay on the processing of your funds.
Note that you? If you
fail to stick with my advice or any delay will lead to us coming
directly to your home address at any time, so try and dance by the rule
and get back tome with good understanding ASAP.
Special Agent in Charge;
Mr.Hackett John Alvin
INSTRUCTION FROM FBI
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Anti-fraud resources:
