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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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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. Mark Nelson" <officefile238@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Mark Nelson" <ddavidnelson@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2015 23:57:25 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I JUST ARRIVED IN JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED.
Attn: To You
I’m diplomat Mark Nelson; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now, I just want to inform you about my successful arrival in John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport with your consignment box of worth of $850 thousand Dollars which I have been instructed by DHL COURIER COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the funds are no way related with drug nor fraud money.
I have presented the papers I handed it over to them and they are very much pleased with the paper’s I presented but the only thing that is keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the box, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful.
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $98 Dollars only to get the tag placed on the box as that tag will enable me get to your house address successfully without any interference, they scanned the box and found out that the fund is 100 % spend able and accepted by any bank in the whole world.
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Please try and reach me with my international number+1 208-591-6016. as I cannot afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care off. I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund successfully with the papers. I have I more vital documents with me but I can only present it to you the hard copy when I reach your destination as that is the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
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You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority.
Name of company's cashier’s:
Receiver Name: Edwin Mokwe.
country== Benin Republic
city======Cotonou
question== Light
answer....... Yes.
amount..... $98.00 USD
Senders Name....
MTCN............
Send the MTCN via this email to enable me proceed and Please don't delay because I don't have enough time here. Send across the $98 dollar to our office in Benin Republic as soon as possible to enable them obtain the Tag, to make sure that the delivery is completed as soon possible I`m now at John f. Kennedy international airport New York.
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Once again you can reach me: +1 208-591-6016.
GET BACK TO ME HERE.
Best regards.
Mr. Mark Nelson.
DHL Delivery Agent
Phone: +1(208 591-6016).  Â
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Anti-fraud resources:
