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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- 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.
- barr.petercharlse@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR PETER DONNAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.petercharlse@yahoo.dk>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 02:47:21 +0300
Subject: FROM DESK OF BARRISTER PETER CHARLES EMBASSY
FROM DESK OF BARRISTER PETER CHARLES EMBASSY
FORGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
===============================
ATTN: My Dear Friend.
The Board of federal ministry of finance BENIN. are here to notify you
of your payment inherited funds of $3.5MILLION. after the meeting held on 2th
of Septermber 2013. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC DUE BENIN DR
YAYI BONI. has Instructed this Department to send your funds
through western
union money transfer for easier receive of your inherited funds without any
further delay. to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on
through the global. you are required to send your name and address were you
want your fund to be send through western union the maximum amount you will be
receiving each day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $7000.00. also your are
required to send us the sum of $109
dollar for re-mewing and reconfirming your file that was deposited in this
office with your name and address bellow .
Beneficiary name----------------------------
Address--------------------------------
Tel phone-----------------------------
CONTACT THIS OFFICE WHO IS IN CHARGE TO RELEASE YOUR FUND
CONTACT PERSON: Barrister Peter Charles.Embassy
EMAIL:(barr.petercharlse@yahoo.dk)
As soon as the required fee of $109usd
is send today for the renewing reconfirming the payment file of your funds you
will start receiving your funds as from tomorrow.
Send the $109
dollar through western union with the name and address below:
=============================================
1.RECEIVER NAME :=======MR.OKEKE DANIEL
2.CITY:===============COTONOU
3.COUNTRY:==========BENIN REPUBLIC.
4.QUESTION=============GOOD?
5.ANSWER:=============NEWS
6.AMOUNT:=============US$109.00
7.MTCN=============
==============================================
We await to receive the western union payment information today.
Please if you are not the real beneficiary don't respond on this
Yours in service Barrister Peter Charles.Embassy attorney, BENIN.
Finance Ministry Federal republic DUE BENIN.
FROM DESK OF BARRISTER PETER CHARLES EMBASSY
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Anti-fraud resources:
