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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. )
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "westernunionoffice@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "westernunionoffice@yahoo.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: MR ONU FILLER <timmonsstyle@aol.com>
Reply-To: westernunionoffice@yahoo.cn
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:03:45 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER URGENT.
WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER URGENT.
westernunionoffice@yahoo.cn
WORLD WIDE FEDERAL BUREAU OF TRANSACTION BENIN REPUBLIC.
ATTENTION FUND BENEFICIARY ,
Send Money Worldwide
This is to notify all our clients about the latest development concerning all the payment that are left in our custody. which yours are inclusive Besides, your where given a bill of $250. in order to receive your payment of which we didn hear from you for sometime now.
Hence, our Western Union is now offering a Special bonus to help all our customers that are having their payment in our custody due to because of price. in order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of $69. 00 to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody.
Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you and have to comply and your funds shall be transfer to your destination address.
But remember that after (3 DAYS) you did not make the payment then we will divert your funds to government fund avoid problem or we will cancel the payment for this year until next year because this year is not last year,
Again after (this week) We will enter A new project for the year and that is the reason we decide to help to all our customers before we enter the new project So be advise to send the $69.00 immediately so that we will register your payment and for to start receive $6.000.00 as from tomorrow.
Remember That your payment funds is only (3.8 Million USD)
Here is the information's of your transactions which you will pick as soon as you send this fee of just $69.00.
SENDER'S NAME.....Belinda Barnes.
TEXT QUESTION..... HOW MUCH?
ANSWER.....$6000.00
AMOUNT.....$7000.00USD
MTCN: 098 31 9261
Be advise that there is no time again After the payment of $69.00 you will start receiving your money every blessed day $6.000.00 through western union Send the money through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below:
1. Receiver Name :::::::::Mr PAUL OBINNA CHIOZIE.
2. Country::::::::::::::::Benin Republic.
3. City:::::::::::::::::::Cotonou
4. Question:::::::God
5. Answer:::::::::::Bless
6. Amount:::::::::::::$69.00.
7. Mtcn::::::::::::::::::::
8.YOUR NAME ;;;;;;;;;;
I will be waiting to hear from you today with the payment information's. I wish you good luck.
Yours in service
MR ONU FILLER
TELL PHONE +229 99 35 55 58
Email ;address westernunionoffice@yahoo.cn
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