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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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Office Use <oficeused@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mgram5240@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:34:30 -0300
Subject: WE NEED YOUR URGENT ATTENTION
This is to inform you that Our accountant agent will send the first
USD$5000.00 to you via Money Gram So get back to this office of Money
Gram Agent to pick up the USD$5000 out of the total sum of USD$2.5
Million.so Call Mr.Swanson Smith and he will give you MTCN CODE
immediately you received this E-mail to enable him speed up for your
payment or you send him an e-mail forwarding all the necessary
information required from you so that they will commence on First
Payment with Text Question and Answer/Sender Name for you to pick up
the first payment today. But I will advise that you try to send the
fee to him to facilitate your payment because this year is the year of
good news and you will be one of the people that will receive your
fund.
SENDER'S NAME:......Mr. Swanson Smith
CODE...........31
MTCN:.........85956076
AMOUNT SENT:......$5,000.00
Ask him to give you the MTCN CODE and sender name you can be able to
pick the $5,000.00.I told him to keep sending you USD$5000.00 daily
until the payment of USD$2.5 Million is completed.Reconfirm your
information to avoid wrong payment.
Your Full Name:.........................
Your Address:..........................
Your Country:...........................
Your Phone Number:......................
Your occupation:........................
Your Age/sex:...........................
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :..........
This is to be sure you are the right person to start receive USD$5000
out of the total sum of USD$2.5 Million from government office payment
Contact him immediately to give you Question and Answer, Contact
person.
Regard's
MR.JOHN DOUGLAS
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Anti-fraud resources:
