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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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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: "Fil" <robertsmuelleriii@superposta.com>
Reply-To: authorization2013@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 28 Dec 2013 08:09:16 +0800
Subject: First Lady
Good Day:
I am Mrs.Michelle Obama and i am here to inform you that your ATM CARD
is here in white house here in Washington DC is the sum of $3.5million USD
dollars. and the funds will be delivered to you as soon as you get back to me
with your home address and your cell phone numbers.
Bear in mind that i am the only one that has your funds in regard to
my husband Mr Barack Obama and you will have to pay the sum of $387.00
before your ATM CARD will be delivered to you today so get back to me
with your home address:
Please i will advice you to go to the Western Union or money gram right now
and me to wire this fee of $387.00 but mind you that this fee will be send to
the Benin Republic were your Card came from:
Here is information to send the fee through western union or Money Gram today:
RECEIVERS ID: SAMUEL EZE
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY COTONOU
CODE: 229
TEST QUESTION: YES
ANSWER: WE
AMOUNT: $387 ONLY
Thanks Regard
Mrs Michelle Obama
E-mail: michelleobama@barid.com
First Lady.
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Anti-fraud resources:
