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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "consignment " (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 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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.
- agentjamessmith1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: AGENT JAMES SMITH <"www."@voice.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: AGENT JAMES SMITH <agentjamessmith1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2017 02:08:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Reply Back Immediately Please .
Attention ,
I'm Diplomatic Agent James Smith and have been trying to reach you
on your Email and your phone, just to inform you about my successful
arrival your Intercontinental Airport with your consignment worth $19.5
Million Us Dollars which I have been instructed to deliver from ( Worldwide
Express Courier Company ) to you.
The Airport Authority demanded for the clearance paper and to
prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud
money, I have presented the papers I have to them and they are very
much pleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that is
still keeping me here is Airport Security Keeping fee of the package
and it is increasing every day by day with some of $55 per day and it
is now 2 days which is $110 and one of the Airport Authority has advised
that we get the delivery Keeping Charge paid before it will increase much
or the Airport Authority to scan the package to see the content , so hurry
up and send the $110 so that i can exit the airport immediately and deliver package .
Please try as much as you can to reach me on my email today as I can not afford to
spend much time here because as you delay is mush the keeping fee is increasing .
So you can direct the fee to our Head Office as they will get it here and they
are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority. Email me
with below information to enable me know your arrangement about the $110 payment .
EMAIL :( agentjamessmith1@gmail.com )
Below is the information where the payment of $110 will be transfer to .
Here is the receiver information .
1.RECEIVER NAME:.........Neal Masly
2.COUNTRY:............. Benin Republic.
3.CITY :..............Cotonou
4..TEST QUESTION:...How Long
5.TEST ANSWER:......Today
MTCN:...............
SENDER NAME:...............
Amount.................$110
Email me the payment information as soon as you made the payment
available to the name of Neal Masly.
Email.... agentjamessmith1@gmail.com
DIPLOMATIC JAMES SMITH.
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Anti-fraud resources:
