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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:
- "insurance 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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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: godwin mike <"WWW."@ninus.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: godwin mike <imfinternational422@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2017 11:33:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: attention:
attention:
Welcome to IMF OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC (IMF)WISH TO informed you that your fund brought to us with your full information is well received and reconfirm the information you sent in regards the delivery of your ATM CARD is reconfirmed,FIRST,you have to know that this ATM CARD WROTE THE SUM OF $15.5 MILLION USD which will be sent to you by ATM MASTER CARD Via DHL COMPANY AND You are REQUIRED TO PAY THE DHL INSURANCE FEE TO Enable them COMMENCE THE DELIVERY THEREFOR make this payment TO us via WESTERN UNION OR MONEY Gram today
BASED ON DHL INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY RULES AND REGULATION YOU ARE ADVICE TO PAY THEY SERVICE Insurance CHARGE BELOW SO that THE delivery can commence TODAY AND YOU CAN received ATM CARD with out ANY OTHER DELAY with assurance and guarantee OK
Insurance Charges: $75USd
DHL Delivery Charges:$50USd
Total Amount to be sent: $125Usd
you are to make the payment of $125 Dollars today for the delivery of your ATM CARD TO BE COMMENCE in your home address.
Receiver Name: Paul IFE
COUNTRY........BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY......COTONOU
AMOUNT.....$125USD ONLY
MTCN..........
NOTE THIS IS ONLY FEE YOU HAVE TO PAY IN CASE OTHER FEE HAS BEEN PAID BY FEDERAL MINISTRY BENIN THE FEE IS ONLY THING HOLDING YOUR ATM CARD TO be DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME AND Report to us ANY FURTHER DELAY,You are to send the necessary FEE TODAY
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE
As soon as we receive the payment information such as MTCN, WE WILL
furnish you with your ATM CARD delivery Shipment Details.
Waiting to hear from you soonest.
Yours faithful
Regard
Management of IMF
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Anti-fraud resources:
