419 scam: Rita Giwa <rita_giwa@yahoo.co.jp> Attn: 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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "western_unioncom@live.com" (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.
- +22998321564 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Rita Giwa <rita_giwa@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: western_unioncom@live.com
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:06:52 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary,

Attn: Beneficiary, We have arranged your payment of $850,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty thousand united state dollars) Previously in ATMpayment card to be sent to you through western union money transfer. Your payment will send to you by western union in a Daily amount of $5000 United States Dollars Each. The ministry of Finance Benin and IMF boards of Benin Republic will send to our office the current standard track details which you will need to pick up your daily ($5,000USD) payment by western union Everyday until your Total compensation Funds of $850,000.00 united state dollars is completely paid to you. The ATM Card is useless now because you cannot be able to make withdrawal as the ATM card has been confirmed not to be compatible with your country.The Minister of Finance has already signed your file pending your confirmation of your informations. feel free to contact mr.johnson Peter of western union payment centre,Cotonou Benin Republic
on this email address.(western_unioncom@live.com ) The Western Union Payment centre has been mandated to issue out your payment hence you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) that we consider reason why your funds payment has been withheld /delayed till date to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note belowdetails needed from you to process your Immediate payment. Receiver name:Country:City:Tel:Test question:Answer: Make sure you respond to this email as instructed to enable the Western Union Payment Office to Commence your Daily Payments as all payments have been Scheduled to Commence on or before the end of May 2011.CONTACT And Call (mr johnson Peter)Immediately to know that you have sent the Payments Requirements so he will start processing your payment immediately Also here is his Telephone for you to call (+229-98321564).Thank you for your Maximum cooperation and bewarned that this emailshould
be handled confidentially to avoid double claim. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be legally privileged and are solely for the individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error please delete this message and any attachment files. All business is transacted under our StandardTrading Terms and Conditions a copy of which is available upon request. E .& .O. E . All liability for viruses is excluded to the fullest extent permitted bylaw. Yours Faithfully,Senator Rita Giwa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam