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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- diamondban017@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION OFFICE <robfornellli@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diamondban017@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 08:58:34 +0430
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
Attention my Dear
I have deposited the check as we agreed with Wal-mart. Here in USA All
you have to do is to contact them at:- (diamondban017@gmail.com ) they
will give you direction on how you will be receiving the funds daily.
My agreement with you is $5,000 USD two time daily until the whole of
$10.5Million USD is transferred. The only fee you will just send is
Activcation Fee to enable you pick up your first payment which i sent
to your Name but i press it on hold by IMF Director General who need
$100 Mtcn# Activcation Charges
Sender: Dr. Frank Boniface
Amount: $5000
MTCN #: 4933749781 tracking Number
Contact Western Union Office here for your payment Release to you:
Name: Mr. Frank Boniface
Text SMS No: +1 (346) 600-0415
Email: ( diamondban017@gmail.com )
send the below information to them:
Your Name:.............
Country:..............
Phone No:.............
Address/City:.........
Age/:..............
Occupation:...........
Copy of your Picture====ID
Here is the information you use to send the money for the transfer
fee. Just copy this Acountant receiver information to go to the
Nearest money gram or Western Union in your state and also send the
$100 for the Activcation fee
Receivers Name:..............John Ego
Country:............. Benin Republic
CITY :............... Cotonou .
TEST QUESTION:....Very
TEST ANSWER:......urgent
AMOUNT ….........$100
The only fee you will send to them before the transfer is $100 USD for
paper work and remittance. E-mail them at: ( diamondban017@gmail.com )
with above address, the contact person is Mr. Frank Boniface, with
phone number:- Text Me SMS No: +1 (346) 600-0415
Thank you.
Mrs.Cynthia Terrell
+229-61021179
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Anti-fraud resources:
