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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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Christopher fred" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernoffice814@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2018 23:02:43 +0100
Subject: Kindly get back to me at your earliest convenience
FUND: $3,500.000.00 DOLLARS.
Somebody called our office and claimed you assign him to receive these funds on your behalf. So i called our head office to be sure before we pay money to the wrong person. It’s clear and understood that you are very much alive and you did not authorize anyone to receive money on your behalf. This case will be handed over to the police board to investigate who this man is he’s trying to steal funds that does not belong to him. The total money is $3,500.000.00 USD and we will be sending you $5,000 daily until the $3,500.000.00 dollars are Fully paid to you. Below is the payment details made to you but your name has not been update as the receiver.
Please give us your Address and Full name and your phone number which you need to receive the money.
HERE IS THE PAYMENT DETAILS POST OUT THIS MORNING
MTCN#: 524-397-9773
Sender: Sylvester iheachor
Amount: $5,000
Receiver: ********
Question: Transfer code
Answer: 001
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Anti-fraud resources:
