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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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found 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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Western union head office departmentRepublic of Benin." <fc8000@watch.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: RevDanielaFrad@mail2christian.com
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 02:55:53 +0700
Subject: Attention for your immense benefits!!!
Western union money transfer agent locationPO
Box 6992 greenwood village, co 80155-6992cotonou,
Benin repdate:...15/06/2016
Attention for your immense benefits!!!
Information reaching us from our corporate headquarters through our
President now states that you have 72hours to effect payment of your
Compensation for the activation of your mtcn to enable you cash up your
first $5000.00 from your total (fund of $950.000.00 ) since you are
finding it difficult to make this payment, we have decided that you are to
go ahead and pay whatever you have for the activation fee Since you are
not able to come up with the required sum, timeis of the essence here.You
are to pay whatever you have for the activation fee,we will Activate your
mtcn upon receipt of this payment.
Be informed that you will have to pay the balance sum of your release
Order fee upon cashing up your first $5000.00 usd, also I am using This
medium to inform you that failure to pay the balance sum will leave us
with no option but to deactivate your mtcn of which you will receive and
can never cash up the balance sum i want you to send the activation fee
with the information bellow.
Send us the mtcn number immediately you send the money and immediately we
confirm the activation fee we will send you the first receipt of your
$5000.00 today Here are the information's where you can send any amount
you have at hand
Receiver::::::::::::Evans Oteh
country:::::::::Benin Republic.
city::::::::::::Cotonou.
question::::::::::::::as soon as?
answer::::::::::::possible.
amount::::::::::::::::any amount you have sent
mtcn:::::::::::::::::::::
sender name::::::::::::::::::::::::::
sender address:::::::::::::::::::
tel:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Awaiting for your urgent email today. remember this code number which is
Meant for your security{w.p.trust god). I wish you good luck and happy new
MOUTH.
Yours in service
Director rev. fr. Daniel AFrad
Western union head office department Republic of Benin.
Foreign contractor payment office
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