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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "w.u.moneytransfer0@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "w.u.moneytransfer0@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. NELSON B.COLLINS" <office.files010703@att.net>
Reply-To: w.u.moneytransfer0@w.cn
Date: Wed, 19 May 2010 09:50:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED
FROM THE DESK OF DR.NELSON B. COLLINS
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF. FREDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT PAYMENT OFFICE.
TEL FAX +229-9834-9818
Email : w.u.moneytransfer0@w.cn
------------------------------ ---------------------------
Attn: Western Union Customer
Be informed that your part-payment of (US$850.000.00) from West Africa Monitoring Institution Unit (WAMI) has been approved to transfer your fund via our Western Union department. Meanwhile your urgent respond is highly needed with the re-confirmation of your details where and how to receive your funds such as: Your Name: Country: State and City.
Also the payment of US$5.000.00 has already been made on your Name through our Western Union for you to pick it up, But Due to there are so many scams on the Internet that is while your fund has been in security key code which You required to pay sum of (US$99.00)to enable us Activate your payment files and also to ensure that you are the rightful person to receive the fund.
Upon receiption of the Activation fee, we shall forward the payment details of the first transfer payment of US$5.000.00 to you and you can pick it up to any Western Union in your country.
You can easily get back to us via email or telephone# for more details while the amount you will be confirming daily is (US$5,000.00) starting from this day once we receive the Activation fee.
Kindly use the name below to send the Activation Fee via Western Union and send to us the payment details:
RECEIVER NAME.......MR.JAMES EMMA
COUNTRY......................REPUBLIC OF BENIN
CITY................................COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION..........IN GOD
ANSWER.........................WE TRUST
AMOUNT TO SEND........$99
SENDERS NAME......................
MTCN..............................
Here is the e-mail address you can contact us and also the person can work on your files after you have made the payment of US$99.00:
Thank you for your email message.
The following is the information you requested concerning the money transfer sent yesterday:
SENDERS NAME: JOHNSON ADAMS
RECIPIENTS NAME: COURIER COMPANY
AMOUNT SENT: $5000 USD
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION: PAYMENT CODE?
ANSWER: 08-Q03-DZ
MTCN: 6754773221
Contact your local agency office to obtain these funds.
Thanks for using our best service,
I wait for your response.
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
YOURS FAITHFULLY
HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN
DR. NELSON B.COLLINS
MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Email : w.u.moneytransfer0@w.cn
PRIVACY NOTE
This message for the Republic of Benin law 196/03 about Privacy may contain confidential and/or privileged informations. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this message you must not use copy, disclose or take any action based on this message. If you have received it in error please kindly advise us immediatly by re-ply e-mail or fax and however we ask you to delete it. Thank you.
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