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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. )
- "once we receive the payment" (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 united states 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)
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- fundimf2@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr.Mike Don
Reply-To: <fundimf2@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2015 03:45:55 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY 1
We need to notify you today if really you send Mr. Williams Thomas to claim your fund the sum of US$5 Million United States Dollars, in our position since you could not meet up the last charge fee $185 . He came with the fee $185 and requested that this office has to settle him on your behalf. respond please in the nest 24 hours before payment is made to his ACCOUNT DETAILS which are:
Mr. Williams Thomas
Account No: 567-878-656
Swift code: BOA56578
Routing No: 657-787
Bank of America
If you know that you are not awear of this all you have to do is to proceed to western union or money garm to make the payment to enable you receive you fund into your bank account without know delay because your fund has been approved for payment by the ministry of finance whichi i can prove it to you. your are also advice to bring your full banking detail so that we will transfer your fund once we receive the payment from you okay.
Below is the information to send the money through western union or money gram.
Receiver Name: Agboh Victor
Receiver Address : Delta Nigeria
Test Question: To Who
Test Answer: Victor
Amount:$185
send me the senders name and address on my email
CONTACT ME VIA THIS EMAIL: fundimf2@gmail.com
Regard
Mr Mike Don
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Anti-fraud resources:
