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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "tax 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. )
- "million us 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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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: ATM FUND MASTER CARD <advocatejohnkoffi01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: atmfundmastercard@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 00:44:34 -0700
Subject: Attention Sir
Attention Sir
Our ATM FUND head office here in Benin Republic has found that
you are one of the customers that has ATM CARD worth the total sum of
$ 2.5 million us dollars which have been debit in the card for a
period of weeks ago and we advise you to co-operate with us to forward
the following details below where we have to use to locate you there
in your city because we are going to deliver your card through
diplomatic immunity for you to receive it there in your house.
Below is all about what we needed from you urgent.
Your house address.............................
Your telephone mobile line which we will use to call you immediately
we arrive there.....................
Your photo copy for us to use it to identify you immediately we arrive
there...........................................
You have to send today the sum of $ 99,00 us dollars for tax fee and
also delivery fee to your house address and you have to send the money
by my name ( HYCIENTH NNAEUE ) that is my name as the director of the
ATM DEPARTMENT HERE IN BENIN REPUBLIC and name of my country where you
have to send the money is ( REPUBLIC OF BENIN) while city is (
COTONOU)
We look forward to hear from you urgent.
ATM HEAD OFFICE BENIN
Director HYCIENTH NNAEUE
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