419 scam: false <geonali1051@verizon.net> Attention Beneficiary,

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +22998330282 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: false <geonali1051@verizon.net>
Reply-To: westernunion34@sify.com
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:10:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention Beneficiary,

Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT Union
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE +229-98-33-02-82
WEB SITE.www.westernunion.com http://site.www.westernunion.com/

Attention Beneficiary,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family, I have been expecting to hear from you but all to no avail. What is the problem? If you did not have any problem get back to me to enable me know your arrangement by sending fee .Be informed that your total amount of your fund is $950,000 USD But the arrangement is that you will be receiving the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000USD) on a daily bases until you have fully received the complete amount of $950,000 USD, This is to avoid complications with Western Union outlet in your city.

However, as a matter of urgency, you are advised to hurry up and send the $75 dollars TODAY so that i will have it completed with the balance i have at hand right now to enable us process your payment file so that we will start sending your daily payment of $5,000 in next 2hours ok!.

I will be expect your positive reply with the payment information in order to renewing your registration online paymentn paper from today, As soon as you make the payment send an email with the Western Union Payment information so that we can proceed with your transfer, just given us 2hours I will forward the payment information so you can go and pick up your first payment without wasting time.

Receiver:   MR. OKOLO EMMANUEL
Address:     Cotonou_Benin Republic
Test Ques: IN GOD
Test Ans:    WE TRUST
Amount:     $75.00 USD

Ensure you make the payment ASAP to the information given below to avoid any delay in sending your daily payment to you because delay is dangerous:

REV. COLLINS. WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam