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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:
- "moneygram" (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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: moneygramagentofficecenter <"www."@sunny.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: moneygramagentofficecenter <moneygramagentofficecenter@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2018 09:00:20 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear customer!!
WE TRANSFER AND RECIEVES MONEY
Finance Department Director
Moneygram online Head Office.
Dear customer!!
This is to informed you that your payment is ready to pickup by you as your depositor sir peter devlin instructed us to make sure that you received this funds before this week ends as the charity organization project of the year according to the arrangement of you and him, then note that here your total amount is $2.7 USD only and it should be released to you daily until your total amount is completed okay, so right now you are advised to respond back immediately as soon as you got this message because earlier is the better, i hope i make myself clear. now and Here is your first payment information, PLEASE kindly go ahead pick it up immediately and get back to us right away and you can also track it yourself to see that it is available to pickup okay, Track your moneygram® transaction as stated below
Receiver's Name: John Nze
Reference# (REF):#82019338
Amount: $5,000:00 USD onLY
PLEASE Track it with this link: https://secure.moneygram.com/track
MTCN PASTE ::::::#82019338
LAST NAME::::::: Nze
PRESS CONTINUE!
Thanks for choosing moneygram online transfer and we ministry of finance need your adiqate co operation in this transaction also waiting for your urgent respond with good news that you have receive it OK.
Mrs. Clara Anita
WE TRANSFER AND RECIEVES MONEY
PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS.
CONGRATULATION IN ADVANCE.
BEST REGARDS.
Send Money Worldwid
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