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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:
- 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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: FBI DIRECTOR <info.fbioffice2@yandex.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:01:23 +0100
Subject: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC./ 19/03/2013/To the
FBI in Republic Of Benin (FBI SECURITY)
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Attention!
We have been watching every single transaction you made since last year
until this 2013 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
that 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 and 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 John Francis Pikus the
special agent in charge of the FBI Albany Department giving you 3 working
hours to effect the payment of the $52.00 usd. To the FBI in Republic Of
Benin (FBI SECURITY) with the information written below:
Receiver Name: Kelvin O. Omokwe
Address: 43 Shipping service street Cotonou Benin
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic
Zip-code: 00229
Text Question: What for?
Answer: Delivery
Amount: $52.00
Mtcn#........................
Sender name ..................
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 to me with good understanding ASAP.
Have a wonderful day and remember all you need to send is $52..00 only to
complete everything.
ROBERT S. MUELLER
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI.WASHINGTON DC.
J. Edgar Hoover Building 935
Pennsylvania Avenue,NW Washington,
D.C.20535-0001, USA
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Anti-fraud resources:
