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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR MARK JOHN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wupay@mailaton.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 18:40:50 -0000
Subject: FUND TRANSFER OF $5,000:00 USD
ATTN; BENEFICIARY ;
FUND TRANSFER OF $5,000:00 USD
INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATED THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 48 HOURS TO EFFECT PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST $5,000:00 FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THIS PAYMENT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY $105 USD SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM OF $185 USD.YOU ARE TO PAY $105 USD FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE; WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT MTCN TODAY.AND PLEASE RECONFIRM TO US THIS BELOW INFORMATIONS.
Your Full Name--------------------
Your Address-----------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Age-------------------------------
Occupation--------------------------
CONTACT PERSON INCHARGE OF YOUR PAYMENT IS MR MARK JOHN
DIRECTOR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
EMAIL; wupay@mailaton.com
PHONE CONTACT; 0022999571490
BELOW IS THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO FAST TO THE NEAREST WESTERN UNION AND SEND THE $105 USD SO THAT YOU CAN BE ABLE TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT WITH THE MTCN THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS SOON AS THIS $105 USD IS CONFIRMED NOW.
1.RECEIVER NAME:........SUNDAY OSAGIE
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4..TEST QUESTION:....WHAT FOR
5.TEST ANSWER:......TRANSFER
6.AMOUNT ..........$105 USD
SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND IMMEDIATELY WE CONFIRM THE TRANSFER WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECIEPT OF YOUR $5000 TODAY REGARDS MY DIRECT PHONE LINE IS 0022999571490
MR MARK JOHN
OPERATION MANAGER.
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
Phone 0022999571490
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Anti-fraud resources:
