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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "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: "Mrs.Donald Trump" <"WWW."@fine.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Donald Trump" <mrs.donaldtrump@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2017 08:29:39 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear, customer
Hello dear , how are you doing today and how is your family ? Please
i am very very sorry for the Late responds to your Email. my dear i
write to let you know that the delivery of your check was successfully
Arranged moreover Attach Find is the scan copy of my a prove i ask Mr
Donald Trump to made which will show you that your check was brought
to white house truly.
My dear i want you to position your mind that you are not going to
face any nonsense that is why your check was brought Directly to the
white house by The Benin republic Government because any Fund own by
America Citizen supposed to come direct to white house to avoid any
scam. i write to let you know that the only thing Which is delaying
the delivery of your check is because the FBI is requesting for
President Permission Slip, Although your check was already credited
with Bank Of America.
Note: the reason why the FBI Is requesting for the Permission slip
from president of Benin Republic is to Avoid any stoppage from any
America Agency because the president permission slip will be Attach to
your Check to let any one know that President Permission Slip is
covering your Fund.
we deliberate on the issue, and the permission Slip will be procured
at length of $100usd so i will like you to use this information now
and send the $100 for obtaining the P.S to enable the delivery
commence.
Here is the information which you will use to make the payment through
Money Gram or western union
RECEIVER NAME: john william
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY: COTONOU
QUESTION: when?
ANSWER: now
Amount: $100
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Anti-fraud resources:
