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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:
- "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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- westernun22@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: John Perry <johnperry0011@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: westernun22@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:28:27 +0100 (BST)
Subject: contact western union and receive your payment here is mtcn,3549027839
My Friend,
My working partner has helped me to send the first $5000.00 to you .here is the
information;MTCN:3549027839
SENDER NAME: SENDER NAMES Daniel williams
MTCN.3549027839
Question God Is
Answer Good
Amount 5000usd
track it now;( www.westernunion.com) I told him to keep sending you $5000.00 daily untill
the payment of ($1.500,000.00) is completed.and again forward him your Telephone number and
adress so that he will be sure.Note that the only money you will send to them is $192.00usd
purchase your payment file due to the huge amount of money involves,
Ihave paid the rest Please,contact John Race for the purchase your payment file due to the
huge amount of money involves,
email (westernun22@yahoo.fr) or phone.+22999281890
Contact person:Dr John Race
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Anti-fraud resources:
