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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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "info.larrymusa01@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "info.larrymusa01@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "\(INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND \(IMF\)" <info.office222@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: info.larrymusa01@yandex.com
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2013 23:55:00 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Funds that remains unclaimed until the DATE: 08/04/2013 should be CONFISTICATED
FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY
(F.C.T.)
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY
FUND
23 HERBERT MARCULARY
AVENUE
COTONOU-BENIN
REPUBLIC
Valued Attn.
We have come to the bottom line of your funds transfer, the initial
charges for the transfer of your funds has been waved. We know you have been
hearing stories about how you can get your funds transfer to your position
account , but you have to understand that your fund transfer is still available
for you to pickup by today and tomorrow. However, following existing procedures,
you will pay only $42US dollars for the certificate of declaration of funds
origin and permanent migrants, before we can process the transfer to your
position or it will result in the cancellation of the transfer.
First I
advice that you copy out your Transaction Codes:
1. New Payment Reference:
873344569
2. Allocation No:
24231
3. Password No: Beninbj369
4. Pin Code No: 434
5. Certificate of
Merit Payment No: 429
6. Released Code No: 451
7. Immediate Telex
Confirmation No: BEN4867
8. Secret Code No: Mauxxx3
9. Amount :
$500.000.00 United States Dollars.
We advice you to indicate the options
you will be willing to have your fund made payable to you. Funds that remains
unclaimed until the 8th of April 2013 should be CONFISTICATED and returned back
to the Government account also note that you are require to pay for the
certificate of declaration of funds origin and permanent migrants transfers
$42US dollars. Send the fee via western union or money gram with the
Below:
1.RECEIVER NAME---Onyekachi James
2.COUNTRY-- BENIN
REPUBLIC.
3.CITY---COTONOU .Add :--NO 123 SEGBEYA cotonou -Benin.
5.TEXT
QUESTION--When
6.TEXT
ANSWER---Now
7.Amount---
$42MTCN-------------
On sending the fee
you are advice to forward the MTCN question and answer to this email: info.larrymusa01@yandex.com and
also reconfirm your receiving details which the funds are to be credited. As
soon as you send the fee and indicate any of the options which you will like
your fund to be transferred to you, and we shall proceed with the
remittance.
We are looking forward to hear from
you.
Thank
you.
Director: Chief Dr. Larry
Musa
I.M.F. (International Monetary
Funds.
Contact: info.larrymusa01@yandex.com
Official Officer Of I.M.F.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
(IMF)
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Anti-fraud resources:
