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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:
- "certificate 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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- jerrymarck897@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: john okeke <alessiose@alice.it>
Reply-To: jerrymarck897@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2013 00:54:56 +0100 (CET)
Subject: call your delivery agent @516 692 1607
Attention
The delivery fee of your ATM CARD with registration code
(GB009) has been paid and our agent is currently at NEW YORK
CITY now with the card.His name is jerry mark HILO his
Email; (jerrymarck897@yahoo.fr) He just called to let us
know that he arrived today and the only fee you must pay to
receive the ATM CARD is the yellow tag certificate fee that is
requested by the customs which will cost you $167.
Reconfirm to him your full name and Your Address
Including Your Phone contact so that he will deliver
the ATM CARD to you as soon as possible.
Your name___
Your country__
Your address___
You’re Age/sex__
Direct phone number__
Receivers Name:mike oraekie
Country: Cotonou.
City: Benin
Amount: $ 167
Text Question: in God
Answer: We trust
Senders’ name
Mtcn
Thanks
Rev.Dr. john okeke
+229 68163365
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Anti-fraud resources:
