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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:
- "clearance 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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- moneygramnv@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Money Gram Department Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <moneygramnv@usa.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:09:38 -1200
Subject: Attention Beneficiary $1.5 Million USA Dollars
Attention Beneficiary $1.5 Million USA Dollars,
We will be transferring your total $1.5 Million USA Dollars Compensation from United nation through money gram daily $5,000. The compensation is from USA Government and United Nation USA. They are giving you the money because your email address appears as one of scam victim. You can pick your first payment of $5,000 with this information below.
Senders name: Money Gram
Reference Number: 559709
Question: Amount?
Answer: $5,000
Note that you will pay $55 with below information for the Clearance of your fund from Internal Revenue Service Benin Republic ( IRS ) before we can release the remaining two digit number to you.
RECEIVER NAME: Jane Makata
Country: Benin
CITY: Cotonou
Test question: Urgent?
Answer: Urgent
Amount: $55
Be advice that we can not deduct the clearance fee of $55 from your total fund due to your fund is under security account. Go and send the money to us through Money Gram or Western union with this information above so that you can start receiving your $1.5 Million USA Dollars daily $5,000USD.
Email me with this email address as soon as you send the money ( moneygramnv@usa.com ) or call +1 631 518 5121.
Regards,
Director Money Gram Department Office.
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Anti-fraud resources:
