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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.
- 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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- www.westernunion609@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Richard <johnmaik94@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Richard <www.westernunion609@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:00:29 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Welome to western union Department Benin Republic
Attention
Welome to western union Department Benin Republic, We receive your mail regarding your fund which is presently under the custody of this great office and instructed to send through western union to you in the amount of $7000,00 daily till the total your amount is Usd $3.5 million sent. However you are required to send $95 only for Inco-transfer Programing charges. Note that immediately upon the receipt of the $95.00 fee the first payment will immediately followed and will provid you the information you need to pick up your MTCN# 5820554701; from your western union office there in United State.
Here is the information you need to send the required fee via western Union Or moeny garm money transfer.
Receive Name;___ Ike Uba
City & Country____Â Cotonou, Benin Republic
Text Question:____ In God
Answer:____ We Trust
Amount:___ $95
PLWASE TRYIN RECONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION TO ENABLE US START TRASNFER YOUR FUND.
Your full Name _____
Your account number_____
Name of bank _____
Bank address __________
country _____
Bank user name _____
Routing number _____
Home address _____
Copy of id _____
Your phone number _____
Your occupation _____
please get back to me immdiately you send The fee of $45 today to enable us pick up your payment of $7000Usd Thank you,
Email; ( www.westernunion609@yahoo.fr )
Tel Phone;+2299_ 844_ 9405
Contact Mr.Frank Tan
Best Regards,
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Anti-fraud resources:
