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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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "dr. sanusi" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- 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.
- diplomaticagent87@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. SANUSI LAMIDO" <diplomaticagent044@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomaticagent87@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 14:10:55 -0700
Subject: YOUR ATM VISA CARD CONTAINS YOUR FUNDS IN CASH HAS BEEN ARRIVED YOUR
COUNTRY THROUGH FEDEX COURIER COMPANY AGENT MR. HARRISON MOSES.
Good day,
Your ATM Visa card contains your Funds in cash has been arrived your
country through FEDEX courier Company agent Mr. Harrison Moses. The
agent Mr. Harrison Moses. is currently at San Diego International
airport CA with the packages contains the ATM Visa card and a
consignment box contains $100000.00 Dollars in cash. The total Funds
is $3500000.00, US Dollars. One hundred thousand Dollars is in cash in
a Parcel and two hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars is in ATM Visa
Card. The secrete number of your ATM Card is (3535) as we agreed; the
Delivery will be will completed to you tomorrow morning.
Bear it in mind that you Have to pay for customs clearance stamp duty
of $107 Dollars because without the Stamp the 2 packages will be
intercepted by homeland security operatives on Arrival into your state
and in order to avoid any delay or disturbance on Transit the package
must bear the comptroller general stamp duty and this will Avert any
disturbance and inconvenience and will ensure safe and Successful
Delivery of the 2 packages contains the ATM Visa card, cash and The
ATM card note book that teaches how to use the ATM Visa and amount
permitted For withdrawal daily.
Info on how you should send the required $1O7 Dollars for the customs
clearance stamp duty is as follows,
Send the fee via western union money transfer or money gram
Receiver's Name. ===ALEX ANA
Country's name. ===Benin Republic.
City Location.=====Cotonou.
Text Question.====when.
Answer. =========today.
Amount ======== $107
MTCN=========
Sender's Name======
You can withdraw from the ATM Visa card $3600.00 in Three transactions
in three different ATM machine. Most important: reconfirm your full
name; home address and your phone number where to make the Delivery.
You can contact the agent Through the following Email
;(diplomaticagent87@gmail.com)
Contact the agent urgent for the delivery of the ATM Visa card and
Cash Funds and let me know once you receive your funds okay?
Wait for your vital Response today once you receive this email.
Dr. SANUSI LAMIDO
BENIN CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR.
Call or send text +229-6894-5517
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