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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.
- 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.
- western.u33@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Chukwu Dike" <bsufans@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To: "Mr.Chukwu Dike" <western.u33@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:11:43 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
Subject: Congratulation
Dear Customer
Congratulation to you have been awarded with the sum of $500,000 USD by the Western Union Money Transfer Office, As part of our Annual market promotions this Year 2012.
This award has been selected through the Internet as you are One Of our Customer, Where your e-mail address was indicated and notified. Please
provide us with the following details listed below so that your fund will be remitted to you through Western Union or bank transfer.
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Country:
4. Phone Number:
5. Occupation:
6. Age:
Be informed that you will need to obtain the Non-Residential Certificate from the Internal Revenue Agency and it will only cost you
US$45 to obtain the Non-Residential Certificate .So your adivce to use this information below to send $45.00 so that we will obtain your Non-Residential Certificate so that we will start sending your payment to you via western union or bank to bank transfer any of your choice below is information for sending $45.00 via Western union transfer.
RECEIVER'S NAME==== RAPHEAL CHINEDU
COUNTRY====== BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY========= COTONUO
TEXT QUESTION==== HOW ARE YOU
ANSWER====== FINE
AMOUNT=======$45.00
You advice to send your payment information As Bellow;
SENDER'S NAME............
MTCN.............
As soon as these details are received and verified, Your fund will be transferred to you. Call us +234-818-679-4002
Thank you, for using Western Union.
Mr.Chukwu Dike
Western Union Director
Email.( western.u33@hotmail.com )
Call us +234-818-679-4002
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PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet
http://www.peoplepc.com
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