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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- m_richard15@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. RICHARD" <"www."@wine.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. RICHARD" <m_richard15@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2017 07:15:32 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WINNING NO (5)
We the Money Gram Transfer Services wish to inform you that as we celebrate our 60th Anniversary that you are among 8 selected lucky Winner chosen on the ongoing Money Gram (WUMT) Sweepstakes, which makes you one of the beneficiaries to receive a total sum of USD$1.2 million Dollars reply back with details below to file for claim.
First Name:.....?
Age:....?
Sex: M/F.....?
Address:....?
City...?/Country:.....?
Occupation:....?
Mobile Phone Number:....?
Fax Number:......?
You are hereby advised to contact our payment office Mr. Maxwell Richard through below contact for the immediate process of your wining payment through Money Gram daily payment and he will be the person Transferring your fund until the total Amount of the USD$1.2 million Dollars is completed by you.
Contact Person Mr. Maxwell Richard
Office Tel: +1 (712) 794-7432 Text or Call SMS
E-mail: m_richard15@yahoo.com
Mode of payment: DAILY MONEY GRAM PAYMENT OF USD$5,000
Yours truly,
Mr. Maxwell Richard
MONEY GRAM DIRECTOR
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Anti-fraud resources:
