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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "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 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.
- fbibenin25@yahoo.com.tw (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Francis Pikus" <officefile195@yahoo.com.pe>
Reply-To: fbibenin25@yahoo.com.tw
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:01:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
P {
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UL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
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OL {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px
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Mrs. Faith
Jordan
Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes
Division
FBI
Headquarters In Washington, D.C. Federal
Bureau Of Investigation J.
Edgar Hoover Building 935
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
FROM
FBI Director; Robert S. Muller III. and Mrs. Faith
Jordan FBI
Director
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 $6.9
million dollars 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 6 working hours to effect
the payment of the $75.00 usd. To the FBI in Republic Of Benin (FBI
SECURITY) with the information written below:
Receiver
Name: Destiny Emeka
Country:
Benin Republic
City:
Cotonou
Test
Question:Sent
Text
Answer:Today
Amount:
$75.dollars only
Mtcn
number: _____________
Senders
name :
_____________
Senders address :
_____________
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.
Special Agent in Charge For Cotonou Benin; E-mail
(fbibenin25@yahoo.com.tw)
Mr.
John Francis Pikus
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Anti-fraud resources:
