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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:
- "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. )
- "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: "Mr. James Williams" <ubahwilliams16@gmail.com>
Reply-To: philipmarco@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:58:05 +0200
Subject: YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO TRANSFER
I am James Williams I will let you know that belly Johnson comeing to
my office to and say that you send him to your funds of $2.8million
him let know that you give fee of $52 to pay for the transfer your
fund to this account and now I go to the International Interpol Police
return because I confidence okay
RECEIVER NAME ====EMMA ONUA
COUNTRY=====BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY=====COTONOU
TEST QUESTION=====HOW LONG
ANSWER=====NOW
AMOUNT======$52.
SENDERNAME=====
MTCN=========
if you not send him for the fund i want you to try and send the $52 so
that i will arrest him and Interpol Police Force, in partnership with
the Stars Initiative, is working towards the recovery and return of
stolen assets. This project allows Interpol to actively engage
national law enforcement bodies in coordinated efforts to trace,
seize, confiscate and return public funds to victim
Best Regards
Mr. James Williams
CENTRAL BANK OF BENIN
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Anti-fraud resources:
