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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atmcard378@gmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- atmcard378@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Edwards Johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcard378@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2016 13:05:35 +1100
Subject: Your ATM Master card parcel worth $15.7Million usd is ready to deliver.
Attn Sir/Madam;
Your ATM Master card parcel worth $15.7Million usd has been registered with ATM card delivery office this morning and we agreed up that the delivery of your $15.7Million usd compensation ATM card Parcel will take off immediately you send them the mailing fee of the ATM Master card parcel to enable their delivery agent deliver the Card to your residence address within 48hours.
Forward the mailing fee $59.00 to the ATM card delivery office with the your full receiver's information's to their email address below ( atmcard378@gmail.com)
Here is the information they need from you for the delivery of the Card:
YOUR FULL NAME;
COUNTRY NAME;
RECEIVER'S ADDRESS;
HOME AND OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER;
CITY OF RESIDENT;
SEX:- MALE/FEMALE;
AGE;
Make sure you Send them the mailing fee $59 with this information's bellow and the Tracking number of your ATM card Parcel Package will be sent to you immediately.
Receiver's name:...Lucas Ozo
Sender's name:.................
Country:...Benin Republic
City:...Cotonou
Text Question:...When?
Answer:...Today
Amount:...$59.00 only
Money Gram Reference number#:.................
Best Regards
Edwards Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
