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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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mgpinfo735@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Steven Powell" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <messefile4@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 22:29:43 -0700
Subject: RE: KT5-086-NCD
Attn:
We are happy to inform you that arrangement has been concluded for your payment worth of $1.7M with the management of M-G Money Transfer Agency in accordance with WAMA-O mandate on all unpaid beneficiaries from ECOWAS, the agreement to pay you via Money-Gram money transfer Service is to avoid any further request of paying for bank transfer charges; for Money-Gram is easy, safe and fastest way to receive your Funds without spending more money.
Please note; all you required to do to complete the transaction is to activate the payment Release CLAUSE, this will enable them to release your payment daily and you will be happy to confirm the payment in Money-Gram office in your locality as this is inline with the agreement signed by the board, you advised to contact the payment unit with the Reference code number KT5-086-NCD with below required details for your payment.
Contact person: Ms. Sandra Ibeh
E-mail: mgpinfo735@gmail.com
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Be advised to send the following receiver's details required below:
Receivers full name___________________
Receiver’s full address___________________
Telephone number(s) __________________
Current city__________________________
State of Origin_________________________
Note: Ms. Sandra Ibeh will inform you how much you will be receiving on daily basis:
Regards.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Steven Powell.
Compensation Payment Coordinator.
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Anti-fraud resources:
