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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- info.westernunionmtransferbj@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER" <info.westernunionmtransferbj@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2013 17:35:48 +0800 (CST)
Subject: send fee by money gram only.
Attention Please.
This is very urgent Our Operation manager has sent your first payment of $5000.00 to you. Here is what we need from you to complete the transfer, You¡¯re Name, Your Address,A Copy Of Your ID and Your Telephone Number: Noted That Only Fee Request from You Is for Reactivate Transfer Files Sum Of $35Only, No More Fee again after that.
Western Union Agent: Mr. Harry Douglas
Direct phone line is: +229-99389977
E-mail ::( info.westernunionmtransferbj@yahoo.fr )
Below is your first payment for $5000usd sent today in your name.
Sender Name: Christopher Udumaga
MTCN: 788-164-5629
Question= What Color
Answer= White
Amount Sent: $5000.00
You can use this link to confirm the payment... ( https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global.
So we are here giving you this MONEY GRAM Information for you to send the US$35 immediately and your first transfer of the US$5000.00 will be on its way after we pick the US$35 by money gram only.
RECEIVER'S NAME :_____Emmanuel Ukeje Mba
COUNTRY:___BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: ________COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:____When?
TEXT ANSWER:______Now
AMOUNT EXPECTED:___$35USD
MTCN_______
We wait for your mail with the US$35 from you and be rest assured that you will receive your total $30,000.00Usd from us because this is General Western Union Head Office here in Benin Republic.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Best Regards,
Mr Harry Douglas
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Anti-fraud resources:
