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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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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.
- 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.
- mrmuriloportugal.portugal@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrmuriloportugal.portugal@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2016 03:24:55 +0100
Subject: I AM WAITING YOUR URGENT REPLY
ATTN: Dear
Base on the instruction given by Ghana Government in conjunction with the U.S. Director of Foreign Assistance we have decided to use this virtue of power to respond to your alarming need. We can understand that some selfish group of individuals in Africa system of government has refuse to release your inherited fund to you and thereby bringing a good number of United States citizens and all part of Europe including Asia, Australia, South American, and Antarctica etc. is our concern.
I am here to protect all the foreign citizens not to be cheated by African through their selfish and unnecessary demands. The corrupt officials in Africa system of government has made your payment file dormant before this instruction giving to (IMF) and that is why you cannot receive your payment all these while. They left your payment file dormant and kept on demanding fees from you.
But through the help of (IMF) and U.S. Director of Foreign Assistance we have been able to stop all these unnecessary demands and you can have your fund. We wish to inform you that your Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars ($10.5M USD) has been secured and out of the hands of African Authorities and is now in the custody of INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF). The $10.5M USD will be paid to you directly from this office as soon as your payment files which is currently dormant is renewed and endorse. Currently your payment file is with us but it is still dormant and the secretary of (IMF) and U.S. Director of Foreign Assistance will get it renewed and endorse immediately you comply with us.
For the renewal and endorsement of your payment file: This is what you will do to get your file renewed and endorse. Get to any western union or money gram close to you and send $55.00 USD today so that your file will be renewed and you will receive your payment without delay. Send the $55 to this cashier name PETER ROBLES with the below information.
Receiver: Peter Robles
Country: Accra Ghana
Question: When?
Answer: Now
Email us the money transfer control number (MTCN) Sender Name and Country today so you can receive your payment within 48 hours.
Good Luck with Best Regards,
Mr. Murilo Portugal
TELEPHONE: +233238459587
Contact me on this email with the payment information (mrmuriloportugal.portugal@gmail.com
Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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Anti-fraud resources:
