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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:
- "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. )
- "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: INFO TRANSFER AGENT <kinnan8@netvigator.com>
Reply-To: infotransferagent@nm.ru
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:10:42 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: Once again, read and oby the intruction
Good Day .
We received your contact mail regarding the funds of $1.800.000.00 which was deposited here in our MONEY GRAM branch office in Benin Republic.
First of all the funds was deposited by Hon Mr Mike Lawrence for immediate transfer and according to our rule and law in this you will receiving your money $5000.00 per day until the total amount of $1.800.000.00, secondly we already proceeding for your first payment of $5000.00 this morning but according to our head office you can not pick it up because the money is on hold by inland department.
You will start receiving this fund immediately you make the payment of $40.00 for transfering cherges fee, all the arrangement has been concliuded this morning so all you need to do now is go ahead and send the transfering cherges fee to us with information below, the transfering cherges fee is $40.00.
Use this information to send the transfering cherges fee to us immediately to enable us proceed with our head office and inland department so that you can be able to pick up the money in your name.
Receive s name :::::: Edwin Obalimu
Country :::::: Benin Republic
city :::::: cotonou
Question :::::: sure?
Anawer :::::: yes
amount :::::: $40.00
Sender's name ::::::
forward the payment information to us immediately you make the payment today to enable us proceed immediately with our head office.
YOUR S IN SERVICE
MR. TONY LARRY
DIRECTOR MONEY GRAM
BENI N REPUBLIC
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Anti-fraud resources:
