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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:
- "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. )
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- diplomaticagent990@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DIPLOMAT BERNARD JERRY <diplomaticagent197@yahoo.com.tw>
Reply-To: DIPLOMAT BERNARD JERRY <diplomaticagent990@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:18:58 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: I AM DIPLOMAT MR. BERNARD JERRY
I AM DIPLOMAT MR. BERNARD JERRY I have been trying to reach you on your
telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival
in ORLANDO Intercontinental Airport Florida with your ATM Card of $7.5 million usd.
Which I have been instructed by DHL DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY to be delivered to you. The
Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up to prove to them that
the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money,I have presented the
papers and handed it over to them and they are very much pleased with the
papers I presented, but the only thing that is still keeping me here is
the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the package, one of the
Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can
exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful.
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost you
$120 Dollars only to get the yellow tags placed on the Package as that
tag will enable me get to your house successfully without any
interference, they scanned the Package and found out that the fund is 100%
spendable and accepted by any bank in the whole world.As I can not afford
to spend more time here due to other delivery I have
to take care of in UNITED KINDOM (UK). Here are the papers backing the funds
as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit
the fund successfully with these papers. I have more vital paper with me
but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that
it is the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to delivery. Reconfirm
the following information’s below so that I can
deliver your ATM Card to you today.
FULL NAME: ==================================
ADDRESS: ====================================
MOBILE NO.:==================================
DIRECT TELEPHONE NO.:========================
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT: ===============
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: ==============
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office in Benin Republic DHL
COURIER COMPANY as they will get the tags here for you and they are
entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries
authority.DIPLOMATIC AGENT MR. BERNARD JERRY Here is my phone No. to
contact me.(850)-388-9316 or you can as well email with this email address
(diplomaticagent990@yahoo.com )
Below is the information you will use to send the $120 to Benin Republic
through western union or Money Gram.
Receiver's Name:==== ANAKWE AUSTINE
Country: ============Benin republic.
City: ===============Cotonou
Zip Code=============00229
Amount:==============$120
Text Question:======When
Answer:=============Now
SENDER'S NAME======
MTCN===========
after sending the payment to Our Head Office in Benin Republic DHL COURIER
COMPANY email me the payment information such as MTCN number also sender's
name text question and answer to enable me reach them with the payment
details so they can get the tags obtain and Fax it to me one hand so I can
make my next step to your address today.(Here Is Your Package Unlocking
CODE (ATR28Xvr)Urgent Response is needed because here is very busy Place
Email me :(diplomaticagent990@yahoo.com) Or call me (850)-388-9316
Regard
DIPLOMAT MR. BERNARD JERRY
Email: (diplomaticagent990@yahoo.com)
Telephone:(850)-388-9316
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Anti-fraud resources:
