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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. )
- "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. )
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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: Info from US Western Union Inc Your Payment <charlottedouglasa@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: ddouglass@blumail.org
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:44:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: It is truth that you have payment of $4000.00 USA Dollars Every Blessing Day
Hello my Dear It is truth that you have payment of $4000.00 USA Dollars Every Blessing Day here in this Department Western Union,But we wish to inform you our instructions first before our we will release MTCN payment information's to you, We have instruction and as soon as you follow our procedure here then your payment will be release to you immediately.
Note: that all the necessary arrangement concern your MTCN NUMBER is ready now but we can not release the payment on hold until you send our office keeping fee which is $49.00 before we will give you the full information's to pick up the $4000.00 today through western union in any country.Again. we are working according to our rules and regulations that guiding our Department now to avoid problem be advise to send our office keeping fee which is $49.00 before we will release your Mtcn payment information's to you. please comply with us to avoid any delay.
Therefore check yourself well to know if you can come up with the amount needed today then let us know immediately by forward the payment information's after sending the $49.00 today. you will start receiving your payment as from tomorrow morning before 11 AM our time tomorrow.So go ahead and send the payment via western union with our cashier information's below.
Reciever Name: :Mrs.Chinyere Eucheria Ndive
Location: :Cotonou,
Country: :Benin Republic
Text Q: :When?
Answer::::::soon
Mtcn::::
Amount:::::.$49.00
Then the sender's name.
Send the money via western union money transfer and forward the payment information's to us for easier pick up.
The Agent will start sending your payment as soon as we got everything done today but any delay will make us to pick up the money back from western union to aviod another person to pick up your payment okay so hurry up.And your total amount of your funds is 2.9 million Dollars you will received which your wining funds from Coca Cola award with Ref: XYL /26510460037/05 Batch: 24/00319/IPD Winning number:CC/09788/60.
I advise to track your payment first so that you will know.Email us once you send the $49.00 today.
Sender Name:::::::peter john
MTCN: 6754325596
Amount $4000.00
Question::When?
Answer::Today
I am looking forward to receive of $49.00 immediately to enable us to give your the full information's which you will use pick up your payment in any western union but fall to do Yours in service so you will loose your payment because your have only today and tomorrow after that no more.
I wish you good luck.
Mrs.Chinyere Eucheria Ndive, officer incharge
Western Union Department Head office
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Anti-fraud resources:
