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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "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. )
- "million us 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)
- "million 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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.Justice Paul Edward" <taniamaryan@gmail.com>
Reply-To: justiceedward11@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2017 09:17:10 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION:JAMES L JOHNSON: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
175 WD 0185Justice of the Supreme Court of BENIN REPUBLICAttentionProvision
of Affidavit of Claim Certificate for Legal Cover Protection of
US$9.5Million Dollars.Please let us start by apologizing to your humble and
noble person,this is because your payment file worth the total sum of
us$9.5Million us dollars has just been brought to my desk for cancellation
which I have to taken my time to look into your payment file to know why
your over due payment should be cancel and I found out that it was because
of your inability to secure your FUNDS RELEASE ORDER CERTIFICATE(FROC) that
is why they have resolved to have your payment of $9.5Million us dollars
cancel.However, due to humanitarian ground and sympathy and because I do
not want your payment cancel so I immediately called up the president to
explain your matter to him as regards your payment and he personally called
up a meeting which was resolved that all payment charges and any payment
fee be reduced to it's barest minimum in order to enable you afford to pay
the fee so that your payment will release to you.To this end, It will
interest you to know that every and any fee/charges required of you have
been reduced to only the sum of $110.00 us dollars this step is in order to
enable you have this only fee paid so that your FUNDS RELEASE ORDER
CERTIFICATE is procured and acquired in order to enable the speedy
accelerated transfer of your $9.5 Million us dollars into any Bank account
of your choice.Please we want you to know that you have till the end of
tomorrow to effect the required payment so we can clear/release and effect
the transfer of your fund worth us$9.5 Million us dollars in our care to
any bank account of your choice, so we advice you to pay the $110. us
dollars through money gram or western union.Use the Below information and
send the payment.Send the $110.00 us dollars through Money gram or western
union.Receiver's Name:.....JOHN
OSOCity:..........CotonouCountry:......Benin RepublicQuestion:....In
God?Answer:.....We TrustAmount:.....$110.00 us Dollars onlyAfter payment
has been made kindly send the below info for pick!Sender's
Name:...........MTCN Number:...........Sender's Address:........Sender's
Telephone Number:......We want you to know that we are indeed very sorry
for any inconveniences, any delay this must have caused you in having your
fund paid out to you long before now. You will never ever regret paying the
fee. This is a promise to you after all your pains in the past as we are
here to serve you as our word is our bond to you.Confirm the receipt of
this e-mail by you immediately and be rest assured that you will be smiling
to your bank once you comply with the above directives now.Your urgent
response to this e-mail now will go a long way in helping us ensure your
payment is released to you within 24 hours of you acting as
instructed.Looking forward for your immediate response today.Yours
Faithfully,Mr.Justice Paul EdwardCHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREMECOURT OF
BENIN. SUPREME COURT OF BENIN REPUBLIC.*
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