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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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)
- "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: "MR.JAMES B.COMEY" <officef1023@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "MR.JAMES B.COMEY" <officepost622@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2015 05:46:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention :Consignment Owner.
Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Department Of Justice
Fbi New York 26 Federal Plaza 23rd Floor New. York 10278-0004
Official Letter >From The FBI New York
Attention :Consignment Owner.
This is to notify to you that I resumed work to office 24hours back and i received update from United Nation Ambassador Mathew and he told me There will be an International Flight today by 4pm and Mr.Andrew Hill will act as your diplomat and deliver the package to you which will take only 18 hours to get the package delivered.The actual fee was $300 but it was reduced to $75 this morning to ensure that you received your package today.
Note: The package you will receive contain a Visa Credit Card which contain $20 Million usd ,Master Credit Card which contain $200,000 and a verified cashier check worth $3 Million usd with the required security document which was made in your name as the sole owner and it also include the security pin you will use to transact with both credit cards.
The sum of $75 is required to enable Mr.OZOR EMMANUEL get a diplomatic package seal with tag or else the International Airport customs will not allow him to board the flight with the package and this diplomatic package seal with tag will be made in your name as the owner of the package.
There is no much time left and the fee need to be paid today to enable him board tonight flight and it will take 18 hours to get the package delivered to you.Send the $75 charge fee and get your package delivered within 18 hours and this will be the only fee and last fee required from you toward this transaction.
USE THE DETAILS BELOW TO SEND THE $75 VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY GRAM.
RECEIVE NAME..........CHRIS IKE
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ................COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:........GOD
ANSWER:.........BLESS
AMOUNT:......$75.00
MTCN ............................
SENDER NAME................
SENDER PHONE NO..............
MR.JAMES B.COMEY (DG)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535
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Anti-fraud resources:
