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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. )
- 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.Anthony Johnson" <johnsonrevanthony@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: rev.anthonyjohnson30@yahoo.com.sg
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:58:19 -0800
Subject: INFORMATION FOR PAYMENT
Attention: Beneficiary
Re: Western Union Transfer of US$500,000:00 on your favor
The Department of Western Union, write to announce to you that we received an
application from Aspac to make release of your fund a total amount of
US$500,000:00 as part payment to you through Western Union due to trouble
experiencing.
In the light of the above, the application has been accepted and the
said amount
approved on your favor with a file reference number AB45K/23-02-52ABPM. The
first transfer of your money with the below provided transfer information has
been fixed on your name and address.
SENDER'S first name: .............Ifeanyi
SENDER'S second name:........ Iwunor
MTCN: ................................2092578080
Amount: ..........$5,000:00
As you received the first payment do update us to process the second
payment to
you as directed by the Authority.
Yours in service,
Mr.Anthony Johnson.
Telephone; +2348072613955
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Anti-fraud resources:
