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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.
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION <onyeboy@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION <company@superposta.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 17:30:53 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Johannesburg South Africa
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer Johannesburg South Africa
WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA.
send Money World wide
Send Money
Attention Dearest Customer,
This
is to notify all our costumer about the latest development concerning
all the payment that left in our custody which yours are inclusive,
besides your where given a bill for re-conforming your payment files in
order to receive your payment of which we didn’t hear from you for
sometime now.
Hence, our Western Union is now offering a Special
BONUS to help all our customers that are having their payment in our
custody due to of prices. In order words we are now requesting that
those involve should pay only the sum of $155 USD to receive all their
payment abandoned in our custody.
So my dear this is the
opportunity for you, and you have to comply so that your funds shall be
transfer to your designated address without any problem. But remember
that after (4 DAYS) you did not make the payment then we will divert
your total funds to our Government account to avoid problem or we will
cancel the payment for this year because this year is not like last
year..
Again after (Four DAYS) we will enter A new project for
the year 2013-2014 and that is the reason why we decided to help all our
customers before we enter into the new project to ensure that you
receive your payment. So be advice to send the $155.USD immediately so
that we will register your payment and for you to start receiving $2500
twice daily as from tomorrow. Be advice that there is no time again for
we to call any person on phone unless you will call After the payment of
$155.USD you will start receiving your money every day $2500 twice
through Western Union;
Send the money through Western Union Money Transfer with the information below,
Receiver's name== Ameke Godwin Onwudiwe
Locations address== Johannesburg South Africa
Text Question==Â What Colour
Answer== Blue
Amount=$155.USD Only
Mtcn.....
Sender,s==
The
moment we receive the payment of $155 I will release the first payment
information of $2500 to you and you will pick up the money today or
first thing tomorrow morning and I will send you another transfer until
you receive your total fund. Hoping to hear from you soonest.
Yours in Service
Mrs. Helen Obalaku.
Western Union International Money Transfer South Africa.
Tel:Â Â +27-610-569-755; Fax; 0027-610-569-755
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