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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Brian Moynihan(CEO) " <fileo0915@gmail.com>
Reply-To: embassyamerica44@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 20:46:39 +0100
Subject: ****SPAM**** BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATE OFFICE HEADQUARTERS
Hello my dear,I want you to know that your total funds is onhold
because of you have not send the $75 dollars, and too I reall
understand your past experience and i promise you that you will get
your total fund of $19.5 million dollars as soon as you send the $75
usd and believe me i will not ever disappoint you in this issue
because the PRESIDENT of this country has all ready approved your
total fund.So you don't have to worry about your past experience
because you will be revival again.
here is the information you are going to use and send the money below.
Reciever's name .................Pascal Okafor
Country..............Benin Republic,
City..............Cotonou
Text Question............COLOR
Answer...........RED
Amount ..........$75 usd,
Sender's name.........
Mtcn no............
Note that you are the one we are waiting for and it will effect in
your name immediately you send the payment of the $75 usd with this
information without any mistake.
God bless you,
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Anti-fraud resources:
