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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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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 <mark@almond.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "western_u120@outlook.com" <western_u120@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 01:19:23 +0900 (JST)
Subject: SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE
WESTERN UNION
SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE
WESTERN UNION TRANSFER
Western Union Money Transfer is happy to inform you Beneficiary that we have completed the processing of your wining prize valued $3.5Million United State Dollars.
We have place $5000.00 available for pickup by the receiver which is you but we received Order from worldwide Fund auditors that you have to get Clearance which will cost $80.00 only, so treat this message urgent and get back to us to enable us give you information's to pay the $80.00 for the clearance in your name and your fist payment of $5000.00 will be activated for pickup.
As we wait, you are advised to furnish us by re-confirming your informations bellow:
Sender name= Cynthia Farnsley
MTCN=575-220-2045
Question=when
Answer=today
Amount=$5000.00
Location= USA
Re-confirm your information
Receiver's Name_______________
Address: ________________
Country: _____________
Phone Number: _____________
to enable us activate the MTCN_______
YOU ARE ENTITLED FOR TWO TRANSACTIONS PER DAYS WHICH IS $10,000.00 EVERY DAY BY DAY.
Contact Rev John Richard
Phone (+22968505127, IF YOU CALL AND WE DID NOT PICK KINDLY DROUP MESSAGE AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU ASAP.
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