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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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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 Edwin Edmund:" <office.fale11@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernunion0022@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:26:34 +0800 (CST)
Subject: From: Western Union Money Transfer Office!
From: Western Union
Money Transfer Office!
Dear Customer! We write to
inform you that your delayed fund has been released today being 30th of .j, 2013
and we are giving Bonus to all our customer. The demanded charge of $88.00 has
been reduced to $44.00 while the remaining $44.00 have to be paid upon
confirmation of your first payment of $3,500.00.
You are advise
to go ahead and pay half of the amount which is $44.00 then confirm your first
$3,500. after you confirm your first transfer you can send the remaining balance
of $44.00. Send half of the money to the following name:
Receivers Name: JOHN
ONYI
Country: BENIN
REPUBLIC
City:
COTONOU
Test
Question: COLOR
Test Answer:
BLUE
Amount: $44.00
Note: Within 30-minutes of
paying the $44.00 you must confirm your first payment and make sure you send the
remaining $44.00 once you receive your first transfer.
Your urgent reply is
needed because of time difference.
MR Edwin
Edmund:
Tel: +229 9517 67
55
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Anti-fraud resources:
