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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. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- unionofficeofwestern@yahoo.com.ph (Yahoo, Philippines, Philippines; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "WESTERN UNION OFFICE" <unionofficeofwestern@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: union.officeofwestern@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:06:43 -0600 (CST)
Subject: VERY URGENT INFOMATION
Attention: Client,
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin republic. Are here to
notify you of your payment inherited funds of US $2.500,000usd directed in
cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03 after the meeting held on
29/10/2011.His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN DR
YAYI BONI. Has instructed this Department to send your funds through
western union money transfer for easier receive of your inherited funds
without any further delay. To avoid paying money to the fraud stars that
is going on through the global. you are required to send your name and
address were you want your fund to be send through western union the
maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from tomorrow is
the sum of $6,000.00.per day
Reconfirm your information's bellow to avoid wrong transfer.
1. Your full name...........
2. Your home address..........
3. Your current home telephone number.........
4. Your current office telephone........
5.Country.................
As soon as this information is received you start receiving your fund
immediately, please use reference No:STH/UNO/WBO/MM-2011, File
No:GT/55/1209SW.for our mutual convenience.
Please response to this mail address for proper identification:Contact
them via
E:mail: unionofficeofwestern@yahoo.com.ph
Telephone (00229)9909-8034
Contact:Person Mr Hope Emerson
The selection process was carried out through our computerized email
selection system from a database of over 200, email addresses drawn from
all the continents of the world.
Regard's
Mr Simeon Chinedu
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Anti-fraud resources:
