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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
- impexe070@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. WALKER JOHNSON" <li01288@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: "DR. WALKER JOHNSON" <impexe070@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 21:04:24 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
Subject: IMPEX DELIVERY COMPANY
IMPEX DELIVERY COMPANY
ADDRESS: 09 APAPA AVENUE
Dear Valued Customer
You
are welcome to Impex Delivery Company Worldwide at its best
service....Hence, always protect our customer to ensure the safety
delivery of you’re package box....under our custody made all arrangement
shipping of your package to your home address.
After much
attempts its necessary urgent contact you to notify you to enable us
delivery of your package box to your home address, With due respect
proceed ahead right now send the required fee are stated below for
immediate delivery of your package box to your home address.
Diplomatic packaging & over night shipping Statement: ----------
Clearance:--$45
Administrative Charges:--$35
Official Vat:--$15
Total = $95
Therefore
matter of urgency to enable us process delivery of your package box,
you are to send the required fee immediately as stated above to below
information via money gram or western union:
Receiver's Name: Johnson Eze
Country: Nigeria
City: Lagos
Text Question: Honest
Answer: Trust
PAYMENT DETAILS FORWARD TO US:
SENDER NAME------
MTCN #---- OR
REFERENCE #----
Once
we receive the required fee, our international diplomat agent will
depart with your package box then your shipment airway bill will be sent
to you immediately we shall precede delivery of your package box within
24hours.
CONTACT US : impexe070@gmail.com
I await your prompt respond.
Yours Sincerely
DR. WALKER JOHNSON, 2014 Impex International
Tel: +234 706-120-7957
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Anti-fraud resources:
