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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- 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: Zenith BANK PLC <zenith0@shqiptar.eu>
Reply-To: <zenith02@shqiptar.eu>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 00:24:50 -0800
Subject: YOUR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER
--
Attention:,
My name is Mr. Graham Honnse I am the manager of Transfer department in
Uba plc Benin republic, am here to inform you that a man came to our
office this morning his name is Mr. Thomas William he told us that he is
your brother from your country he said that you are dead.
Mr. Thomas William said that you die two week ago in a car accident
on your way going to work and before your death you told him that you
have an transfer worth of $4.8Million dollars and he came here with $85
dollars the activation fee of the bank to bank wire transfer to
activate the funds and collect it. If real you are dead may your soul
rest in perfect peace AMEN, but if you are alive please due call me on
this phone number ( +229 93012571) and get back to me with the $85
dollars the transfer fee today okay.
If I did not hear from you today with the transfer fee then I will
collect the $85 dollars transfer fee from Mr. Thomas William and hand
the fund over to him okay.
Below is the information to send the $85 dollars activation fee via
western union money transfer.
Receiver Name====DAVID OJADI
Country ======Benin Republic
City ======Port-Novo
Text Question ====Yes
Text Answer ====Yes
Amount ====$85 usd
MTCN ============
Sender Name ============
Sender Country =================
Do have a wonderful day if you are alive but if you are dead may your
soul rest in peace (AMEN)
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Graham Honnse
Director Zenith Bank Plc Benin Republic
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