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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. )
- "wunioncustomerservice@secretary.net" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. ANDREW B. COLLINS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <wunioncustomerservice@secretary.net>
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:15:00 +0100
Subject: Your payment has been released!!!
Your Payment Has been sent to you Via Western Union Send Money Worldwide
ATTENTION: ORDERING BENEFICIARY!
This is to inform you that we have completed and release your payment of ( $ 2.8million) which as been coded into our western union gold card(works like every visa and master card world-wide) and your maximum withdrawal daily will be $10 , 000 us. You are to immediately contact the payment agent with your full name and location through the contact listed below to pick your western union gold card which will be sent to you immediately you provide your giving information .
WUMT PAYMENT AGENT:
EMAIL: wunioncustomerservice@secretary.net
Tel: +229 682-42748
Don't delay in contacting the agent.
DR. ANDREW B. COLLINS
Western Union MT Payment Coordinator
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer (R).
Send Money Worldwide
Western Union ® Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Registered © 2009 - 2012 Western Union Money Transfer. All Right Reserved
This email is intended the for the named is recipient only and may contain privileged and confidential information If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately or simply disregard the content of this message intended.
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Anti-fraud resources:
