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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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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.
- 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.
- mrmarkben91@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mrmark ben <www.@forest.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: mrmark ben <mrmarkben91@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2018 05:58:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Beneficiary
This is to inform you that your funds of $3.6 Million USA Dollars
which was on hold by the International Monetary Funds for the past few
years ago and we did not heard from you again, so after the board
executives meeting yesterday it was concluded that your fund should be
release to you. So it has been forwarded to the D.H.L for the
immediate delivery to you. today afternoon and i will give you
tracking numbers, So the only fee you have to pay to them is $4.00
USD for them to purchase your delivery files and start delivery your
consignment tomorrow and arrive time is 5:35PM your time make sure
that you must be at home tomorrow at 5:35PM after sending this last
fee and forward your delivery address with the MTCN# be very fast and
do this transfer so your package will follow first P.L.N Tomorrow,
here is tracking to others people who receive their own last three
weeks to confirm that you will receive your own like them just
tracking with www.dhl.com Tracking number (Waybill: 3649333240)
contact on EAMIL ( mrmarkben91@gmail.com
Find below information where you send the require $45.00 for the
immediate via MONEY GRAM
Receiver------------ rick oba
Country-----------------Benin Republic
Location City---------Cotonou
Text Question--------When
Answer-----------------Now
Amount--------------$100.Only
Mtcn-----------------
Sender ------------
Your receiver name ...............
And your home address..............
Be advise that the $100. is a compulsory as they told me that is
only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely
I will be looking forward to hear from you with the payment
information's and your receiver address..
Yours faithfully.
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Anti-fraud resources:
