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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "bellomohamed@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "bellomohamed@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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: "aplrilia reinsenny" <moneytransfer02@kimo.com>
Reply-To: bellomohamed@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2015 01:51:32 +0800
Subject: I Promise That You Will Receive Your Atm Card Immediately
Attn:,
i receive your mail and the content is well noted ,the only fee you have to pay before you will receive your ATM CARD is $85 and once you send the money today then i promise that you will receive your atm card by immediately . my dear you do not have to pay any other fee except this re-activation fee which is $85 then you will have your atm card. The bank needed you towrite an application to them demanding them to transfer the funds into your nominated bank account,so I will like you to contact the bank now and tell them to transfer the sum of $4.8Million to your nominated bank account in your country and the payment director will proceed immediately and transferring the fund into your account.
We expecting to have the fee today unfailing as your ATM CARD will re- activate here all the information is ready with you now remaining your ATM CARD to send to you .so you can contact the minister of finances with this e-mail address (bellomohamed@outlook.com) you contact him now ok
Remember to keep this information secret
Send the required fee to our customer services name
Receiver's Name__________EMMA ONUA
Country__________________ Benin Republic
City________________Cotonou
Text question________JOY
Answer____________OF GOD
Amount________$85.00usd
MTCN Number_________
Sender Name___________
Mr mohamed Bello
Customer Care.+229-9301-2571
E-MAIL===bellomohamed@outlook.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
