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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:
- "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. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: US EMBASSY <"wwwwkakakaa."@utopia.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: US EMBASSY <info.us_embessy23@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2018 18:30:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOD NEWS! YOUR CASH TRUNK BOX WITH US EMBASSY
FROM HON. CHARLES MANNO
UNITED SPACE ALLIANCE
Plot 1075 Diplomatic
Drive Central District Area, Benin Republic.
Dear Michael Mitchell
As you may have already know, this on-going cash delivery exercise of your Payment/fund to you with DELIVERY AGENT will be Cancelling by tomorrow. Be informed that you have only today to pay off the required balance So that we can Deliver your CASH TRUNK BOX of $4.5 Million US Dollars payment of your Compensation to your authorized billing address within 24hours.
RECEIVERS:NAME:GRABE UMANO
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION :WHO MADE
TEXT ANSWER: JESUS
We will be expecting your Payment information including the MTCN in your next email. But failure to comply today then am Sorry we will have to CANCEL the Payment and close your files.
Yours In Service,
Hon. CHARLES MANNO
U.S. Ambassador
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Anti-fraud resources:
