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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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Michael Williams" <danielleporto@secrel.com.br>
Reply-To: officefilee299@qq.com
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2017 10:50:00 -0300 (BRT)
Subject: TEXT OR CALL +1 (805) 386-9120
This email is from Diplomat Michael Williams United Nation signed contract
delivery man in charge of your sealed ATM visa card with all documents
covering your $5.5 Million Usd fund i wish to inform you that i am
currently at 5701 W Smithville Rd, Bartonville, IL 61607, USA i delayed
responding to your email because i did not have access to email on time
please next time text me at +1 (805) 386-9120
Meanwhile I have presented your delivery papers to the custom authority
for verification and after 4 hours they returned the papers with check
seal meaning they are satisfied with the original copy’s i have presented
to them the only documents they did not approve is the US Custom Bill of
Lading they stated that the document must be obtain from US custom here in
Bartonville, but the one i have here is from Benin Repulic and they said
its not valid for delivery in United States
I have now made inquiry and service charge for obtaining this US Customs
Bill of Lading is $287and it should be sent to ILLINOIS United States with
below information provided by the customs authority its should sent
through Money gram only please i advice you to see if you will be able to
pay this fee at once because most of the times why some local diplomats
find it hard to deliver in USA is that they fail to have a complete visa
and any little delay will restrict them from moving around USA and that
will make them stay at a place asking for endless fees, so what i want you
to do is to pay this fee as soon as you can and send payment information
so that i can deliver within 24 hours
Find the information below and send me a text me when you are done please
remember I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery
successful.
NOTE MAKE SURE YOU REPLY THIS MESSAGE FOR RECORD PURPOSES +1 (805) 386-9120
Thanks and God Bless
Mr. Michael Williams
Benin And United Nation delivery man
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Anti-fraud resources:
