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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: MONEY-GRAM PAYMENT OFFICER <M.G.O.P.@gaea.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MONEY-GRAM PAYMENT OFFICER <charlesflana41055@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 12:25:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CONTACT MONEY-GRAM OFFICE FOR YOUR PAYMENT!!
THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE A GOOD NEWS BECAUSE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $10,000.00USD HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU WITH THIS MTCN:(60-468-56) AND WE CANNOT RELEASE THIS ONE NUMBER THAT IS BEGINNING FOR YOU UNTIL YOU SEND US $45 FOR US TO RE-FORM YOUR PAYMENT FILE AND NOTE THAT AS URGENT AS YOU SEND THIS $45 THEN WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP TODAY WITH THE ONE NUMBER THAT IS BEGINNING DIGIT FOR YOU TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST AVAILABLE $10,000.00 USD ASAP TODAY.
NOTE THAT YOU HAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITY NOW TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST $10,000 USD TODAY AND THE ONLY THING THAT IT WILL COST YOU IS $45 AND IF YOU CAN RUN DOWN TO MONEY-GRAM OFFICE AND SEND THIS $45 THEN I WILL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE FULL MTCN FOR YOU TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $10,000 USD TODAY JUST UNDER 2HOURS TODAY WITHOUT ANY MORE WASTING TIME AGAIN.
fill the information below to help us facilitate your transfer via MONEY-GRAM.
1) Your Full Name:.............
2) Country.........................
3) Mobile:. ........................
4) Home/ Office Address:....
WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE TO QUICKEN THE PROCESS.
Regards.
MR, HON CHARLES
Tell phone: (+229 987-160-69) URGENT CALL
GENERAL MANAGER MONEY GRAM OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
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Anti-fraud resources:
