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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:
- "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: "Mr.Hackett John Alvin" <usaembassybeninrepublic7@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomaaddo1@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 07:35:32 -0700
Subject: INSTRUCTION FROM FBI
Be informed that FBI Anti Fraud Unit have been following every single
transaction you made since last year until this moment and you have to
know that we are also working to ensure your funds which were suppose
To be delivered to you but unfortunately not, and also bear in mind
that whatever conversation you are going to communicate to us will be
forwarded to the court. This is the final warning you are going to
receive from this office and I hope you understand how many times this
message has been sent to you?
We have been notified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New ,
BENIN REPUBLIC Office of the abuse on them by you on failing to comply
with 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 comply with section of
the agency act which will warrant 2 years jail sentence. 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 $128.00
usd. To the FBI New Delhi, India office (FBIsecurity) with the
information written below:
RCEIVER NAME.... CHINEDU JEVIZU
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ....................... COTONOU
AMOUNT..................$128 USD DOLLARS
QUESTION:.................. URGENT
ANSWER:......................TODAY
SENDERS FULL NAME:
SENDER FULL ADDRESS:
DIRECT TELEPHONE 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 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;
Mr.Hackett John Alvin
INSTRUCTION FROM FBI
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Anti-fraud resources:
