joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22998131200 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • wumt.beninrepublicc@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:35:52 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Your Authentic Western Union Payment


Attention Beneficiary ,

With regards to our most efforts to get your fund transferred to you through the Republic of Benin, and with the difficulties you faced during these times due to the fact that you have not been able to complete the transaction requirements,be informed that we will commence the transfer through the world fastest means on money transfer (WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER). At this moment, we
have gotten an approval from the minister of finance DR MARK PADONOU to start the transfer
immediately.

On this note be informed that we have started working with Western Union Money Transfer in collaboration with ECOBANK BENIN . You will be receiving Five Thousand US Dollars ($5 000.00) every day until your total sum of One Million Dollars($1 000 000.00) is fully paid.

And your payment instrument has been passed to ECOBANK BENIN western union money transfer for your onward transfer of your principal sum.

You are therefore advice to contact western union money transfer office here through email
wumt.beninrepublicc@hotmail.fr or call direct +229 98 131 200 for more the rest of the information to enable quick pick up. They will forward the details information to receive the money with, such as receivers and senders name with the money control numbers upon your contact
for it.

For official endorsement, you are advice to send to the office any of your scanned valid identity,
country and city,name, full address and direct contact numbers immediately so that you can
receive your money today.Thanks for using our best service, I wait for your response.

Sincerely

Mrs Charity Uwaoma
Director International Monetary Fund.
West African Regional Office

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam