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:
  • "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. )
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
• 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.
  • +22998950263 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "westernoo@virgilio.it" <westernoo@virgilio.it>
Reply-To: western_union_moneytransfer10@live.fr
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:32:48 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: your transfer code notification

Attn; Recipient,

We have concluded to effect your payment through western
union. They will be sending $10,000.00 daily until the $750,000.00 is
completely transferred to you accordingly. Though, Samuel Obinna. has sent
$10,000.00 to you today, so contact Western union Agent:

Director;Mr.Hill
Johnson
E-mail:(western_union_moneytransfer10@live.fr)
Cell; +229-989-50-263


NOTE; this payment was directed to be made available in your name and you can
only pay them $85.00 so as to enable the purchasing of your inheritance file to
prevent illegal transfer of your funds.

RECEIVERS NAME.........DONALD OKOLI

COUNTRY............BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY................COTONUO
TEXT
QUESTION..........TRANSFER CODE
TEXT ANSWER............001

Then after you send
them $85.00 tell Mr.Hill Johnson. to give you the payment information for
$10.00000once you send the payment of $85.00 to them to enable you pick up the
two transfer each $5,000.00. Please, do not forget to update me as soon as you
receive this two payment.

Regards
David Peter(ESQ)
Western Union Payments

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam