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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. )
- "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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- westernnofficer1@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: western union <aishetosani02@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: westernnofficer1@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 13:26:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: E-mail:(westernnofficer1@yahoo.fr)
Office of the Operation Manager
Western Union Payment Center .
Head Office, Herbert Macaulay Way,
Wusih Zone 6, Porto-Novo FCT.
YOUR FULL RESPECT,
Â
After a serious and lengthy meeting today held by the board of Directors on your behalf it was decided in your own favor and best interest to reduce the payment for the International Delivery Paper to $39.00 so that you can meet up with the payment.
Â
Please you are given only 48hours to make this payment so that we can release your $2.5m U.S.D in our care so we advice you to pay the $39.00 through the western union money transfer.
Â
Via the below information and send the payment details to me.
Â
Receivers name: CHUKWUDI GABRIEL
Country: ---- Benin Republic
City: ------ Cotonou
Test Question: --- Trust
Answer: -----God
Amount: -------
Mtcn number: ------
Sender’s name: -------
Â
Please go and send it immediately and send to me the payment details immediately. We are here to serve you as our word is our bond to you. Confirm the receipt of this e-mail by you immediately and be rest assured that you will be smiling once you comply with the above directives now.
Â
Yours Sincerely.
Hon. Mike Obi
Senior Resident Representative in Benin republic
E-mail:(westernnofficer1@yahoo.fr)
Cel+229-97615755
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Anti-fraud resources:
