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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. )
- "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 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.
- larryokene@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Godwin Larry" <mail@jbellphotography.com>
Reply-To: larryokene@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 08:01:47 -0400
Subject: Dear Sir,
Dear Sir,
Note that I Mr.Godwin Larry or any one here is not officially
authorise to pay $28 delivery charge on your name since you are
beneficiary//receiver of said ATM card $5.5M.
Please try and reach me with my number Tel: +1(540)3249253 test OR
call me as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other
delivery I have to take care of. Here are the papers backing the funds
together with my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you
will deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have more
vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I
reach your house as that it's the diplomatic rules, such as
authorization to deliver.
Re-confirm to me your contact information:
Full Name...............
Direct Telephone Number ...........
Delivery Address .............
Immediately, you pay $28 you receive your ATM card $5.5M without any delay.
Send the $28 via western union use informations bellow:
RECEIVER'S NAME: DAVID EKEH
QUESTION:Good
ANSWER:Good
Finally,remeber to send your contact address together with MTCN $28 so
that the ATM card $5.5M will be delivered to you hand to hand through
DHL personel.
Yours Faithfully,
contact Email (larryokene@yahoo.com)
Dr.Godwin Larry
Manager Dhl Office
Cotonou Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
