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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:
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Justice Ikpe <ikpejustice809@gmail.com>
Reply-To: justiceikpe80@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:21:08 -0500
Subject: Hello
--
Dear Customer
I am the new chairman of ECF (Economic Criminal Fighters ) Benin
Republic . Having studied your message we are constituted to fight
crime and corruption in the country . Last week we discovered abandon
goods properties luggage's packages etc from dhl tnt fedex courier
company etc
These belongings to the rightful owners have been abandoned by these
courier companies for months and years
Therefore we decide to mandate this office's to send these packages
to their rightful owners via email alert . Which yours is not in
exception
Now instead of paying the original delivery fee which is $325 dollars
according to their prize tag you are required to pay only $145
dollars . Once you send this $145 dollars delivery fee send the
payment slip together with your home address where the package will
be delivered to you. And your direct phone number for easy
communication
Go to western union or money gram and send the $145 dollar delivery
fee with my names Surname: IKPE Given Name: JUSTICE Country :
BENIN City : COTONOU
Complete legal name......................
Direct telephone ..............................
And Postal address .............................
Date of Birth .........................
Nationality .................................
Considering this development, your advice to furnish us on this email
( ) with your
Mr.Justice Ikpe.
Chairman ECF Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
