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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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Management" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <claim_wumt@live.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 22:09:17 +0100
Subject: Compliment of the Seasons 62
Management of Western Union
Office Abuja,
Plot 205 Bank Road Maitama
Abuja Nigeria.
BRANCH CODE: KUA002BG
Dear Prospective Award Winner,
CONGRATULATION ON YOUR COMPENSATION OF USD$200.000.00 FROM WESTERN UNION OUTLET.
You have been choosen as one of the lucky winner of the award compensation program that was
held on 15 January. 2010. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site
through our Intelligence Network System.
For your information, We have covered the Insurance premium in which the original copy of
the document will be sent along with your Bank Draft. As soon as we confirm that you have
received your Cashier's Check we will give you further direction to any of our paying bank
in your country to cash your check. Your preferred courier delivery company will dictate the
cost of your shipping fee.
Note: The only money you will have to pay is your FedEx or DHL Couriers Company to deliver
your Bank Draft directly to your postal Address in your country. So if you are not winning
to pay for the Delivery charge PLEASE do not reply to this mail.
Do not be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except your delivery fee via any of the
above courier company make sure you have you Western Union Agent working identity card
before you send your shipping fee or further communication with Him/Her and please do
disregard any email you receive regarding your said fund without the code number NGF00B248H
all the internet scammers that are trying to Extort money from you we are also trying our
possible best to track down those impostors that are using this honourable office's name to
scam and rip people off.
Incase you have any Hoodlum that scammed you, we will advise that you forward to us his
name and his contact so that we can trace them and as well bring them to book.
Get back to us with the following informations
Full Name---------------------
Postal address ----------------
Country: ---------------------
Telephone Number --------------
Courier Company to be use-------------- (1) DHL (2) FedEx (3) UPS
Management of Western Union
Office Abuja,
Plot 205 Bank Road Maitama
Abuja Nigeria.
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Anti-fraud resources:
