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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- +22993843698 (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.
- western.u@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "mutigwemartine4@terra.es" <mutigwemartine4@terra.es>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 01:58:00 +0100 (MET)
Subject: FROM WESTERN UNION OFFICE MONEY TRANSFER.
Attn,BENEFICIARY;
We have concluded to effect your payment through western union $5,000.00 daily until the $900,000.00 is completely transfered.So you advice to contact the western office Benin with
bellow information;Western union Agent:
Barr.Mutigwe Martine, Tel: +229-9384-3698
E-mail:western.u@hotmail.fr
Though,Mr.Samson Nkono sent you $5,000.00 in your name today so contact him and tell him to give you the mtcn, sender name and question/answer to pick the $5,000.00 and then start transfering your total money to you as i directed them.
Finally,to avoid anything happen to the money i deposited it with an insurance coverage.Thanks
Barr.Mutigwe Martine,
Ahora también puedes acceder a tu correo Terra desde el móvil.
Infórmate pinchando aquí.
Anti-fraud resources:
