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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "annemartin201@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Anne Martin" <daniele.sabatino@alice.it>
Reply-To: annemartin1111@yandex.com
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2018 21:27:51 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: HIGH COURT OF BENIN REPUBLIC. THREE-ARMS ZONE P.M.B 308. GARIABUJA.
HIGH COURT OF BENIN REPUBLIC.
THREE-ARMS ZONE P.M.B 308. GARIABUJA.
From: Aloysius Katsina-Alu Chief,
Justice of the high Court of BENIN REPUBLIC
ATTENTION FOR THE ORDER FROM THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF BENIN REPUBLIC.
Provision of Affidavit of Claim Certificate for Legal Cover/ Protection of
US$10.5 Million Dollars.
Please let me start by apologizing to your humble and noble person, this is
because your payment file worth the total sum of us$10.5 Million us dollars was
brought to my desk for cancellation which i have to take my time to look into
your payment file to know why your over due payment should be canceled and i
found out that it was because of your inability to secure your Release Approval
Order Certificate (RAOC) that is why they decided to cancel your payment of
us$10.5 Million usd.
However, due to humanitarian ground and sympathy and because i do not want your
payment to be cancel, so i immediately called up the president and explain your
matter to him as regards to your payment and he personally called up a meeting
which was resolved that all payment charges and any payment fee should be
reduced to it’s barest menial in order to help you afford the fee.
To this end it will interest you to know that every and any fee/charges
required has been reduced to only the sum of $135. us dollars this step is in
order to enable you afford this only fee so that your Release Approval Order
Certificate (RAOC) will procure in your name to enhance the immediate transfer
of your $10.5 Million us dollars into your bank account or ATM Master Card will
be delivered to your home address.
Please I want you to know that you have till the end of this week to effect the
required payment so we can clear, release and effect the transfer of your fund
worth us$10.5 Million us dollars into your account,
So i will advice you to copy below information and address to effect the
payment of $135. us dollars through any Western Union Money Transfer or money
gram transfer and send back the payment details to this office immediately the
payment is effected.
Send the $135. us dollars through Western Union or money gram to
Receiver’s Name:…………. Frank Eze
Country:…………….. ……………… Benin
City:……………….. ……………..Cotonou
Question:……………. ……………….. sure
Answer:……………… ……………………yes
Amount:……………… ……………………. .. $135. us dollars only
Sender’s Name:……………….. ……..????????????????? ???
MTCN Number:……………… …………????????????? ????????
We want you to know that we are indeed very sorry for any inconveniences any
delay this must have caused you in having your fund paid out to you long before
now.
You will never ever regret paying the fee this is a promise to you after all
your pains in the past as we are here to serve you as our word is our bond to
you.
Confirm the receipt of this e-mail by you immediately and be rest assured that
you will be smiling to your bank once you comply with the above directives now.
Your urgent response to this e-mail now will go a long way in helping us ensure
your payment is released to you within 24 hours of you acting as instructed
Looking forward to read your email with the payment details of the required
$135.
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Anne Martin
annemartin201@yandex.com
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HIGH
COURT OF BENIN.
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