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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "lagos" (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 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.
- westernuniontransfer807@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Payment" <jjoseph@coastal-energy.com>
Reply-To: paul_turner05@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 19:52:37 -0400
Subject: Western Union Payment
Western Union Payment Office
West African Zonal Headquarter
Lagos Republic Of Nigeria
E-mail: westernuniontransfer807@yahoo.com.hk
Under the United Nations Scam Victims Rehabilitation scheme, You are
LISTED to receive your compensation through Western Union payment on the
tune of USD $ 800,000.00 as one of the scammed victims.Your name and Country
enlisted in our Website Publication as one of the lucky Beneficiaries to
the Compensation Fund payment. You can Track your available Fund below
to See it Online with sender's full names and MTCN.
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=CN
(MTCN) 4686835364
FIRST NAME____ OBALIMU
LAST NAME____ OKECHUKWU
AMOUNT SENT: $ 5000,000
The Total funds on your name here is $ 800,000.00. but there are some
process you will pass through before you can be able to pickup the
available funds. you have to validate your file in this office with the
little fee of $90 which will fully authorize us to give you the
information to pickup the available fund . This is the only money involves
.
Kindly go to the western union or money gram and send the $90 to this
information below.
RECEIVER : OBUKA MICHAEL
CITY : LAGOS NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION : IN GOD
TEXT ANSWER : WE TRUST
Email us the payment information as soon as you send the fee so that we
can activate the payment right away and send the information to you so
that you can pickup the first $5000.00 immediately.
You can Email us on: westernuniontransfer807@yahoo.com.hk
Sincerely Regards
MR . PAUL TURNER.
Western Union Payment Office
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Anti-fraud resources:
