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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:
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Naidoo Mohangi" <drthomas@presidency.com>
Reply-To: presidentialreleaseunit@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2015 23:35:22 +0300 (MSK)
Subject: APPROVED SETTLEMENT NOTICE BY PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Head Office: Plot 802, Constitution Avenue
Zone A9 Central Area
P. M.B 535, COTONOU-BENIN REPUBLIC
OUR Ref: ICPC/BG/FG/2015
Direct Tel: +22998755926
Date : 7-01-2015
Attn
APPROVED SETTLEMENT NOTICE BY PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
It will interest you to know that i Dr.Thomas Yayi Boni, this morning got
a report from the united state F.B.I, Germany the AUSTRALIA PLOICE and the
US HOME LAND SECURITY under the United nation LEGAL department that i
should order for immediate release of your outstanding total fund US$3.2
Million which has successful channeled to transfer into your local bank
account.
This inheritance fund supposed to be in your local bank account, since
some years ago from the report i got but due to those criminals in my
country you have not yet received your fund.
Now you as the owner of this inheritance fund you must secure the IMF fund
release authorization certificate at the cost of $120 official prize.
On behalf of this Democratic Government of Federal Republic of BENIN, I
apologize for any delay you might have encountered in receiving your Fund
in the past.
The above money should be paid VIA MONEY GRAM or WESTERN UNION within 24
Hrs in favor of the smooth confirmation of your funds into your Bank
Account for security reasons.Therefore kindly re-confirm your receiving
bank account info.
1.Your bank Name : ...........................
2. Bank address: .....................
3. Account N0: ................................................
4. Swift Code : ..........................
5. Iban N0: ....................
6. Account Name : ...................................
7. Next of Kin : ....................................................
Use info below to send the required fee.
Receiver Name : JOHNSON EZE
Country : BENIN
City : COTONOU
Test Question : HAPPY ?
Test Answer : NEW YEAR
AMOUNT : $120
Dr Naidoo Mohangi for President of Benin Republic Dr.Thomas Yayi Boni
Direct Tel: +22998755926
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