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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Calister Makasi" <woffice1990@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs. Calister Makasi" <w.unionoffice93@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:46:34 +0900 (JST)
Subject: OUTSTANDING PAYMENT FINALLY RELEASED
Western Union payment
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
+ 229 98988981
I apologize for my delay in sending your first
installment; I have forwarded your total fund of 4,500,000 Million USD today to
western union Agent Mr. Goodluck Anderson who was authorized by the
International Monetary Fund to transfer your fund to you without any further
delay, so call Mr.
Goodluck Anderson + 229 98988981 and ask her what you need to do in
order to receive your total fund in her custody.
(1) Receiver Full Name.
(2) Phone Number.
(3) City:
(4) Country
(5) Sex
Furnish her with the above information to enable her
confirm your information with the one I send to him and facilitate your fund
via western union.
As soon as this information is received and you have
complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges your
payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly
from The Western Union Transferring Bank. While emailing kindly use reference
number 386-983 for our mutual convenience.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: You will be required to pay for
activation fee of 95USD and if your payment for
the activation fee is not received after Four (4) days this time around, you
risk forfeiting your benefit permanently.
Regard,
Mrs. Calister Makasi
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Transfer fees and the principal amount are
due and payable before Western Union processes the transaction. You must pay
for the Service through western union agent or money gram. If Western Union or
money gram does not receive authorization from the sender or cleared funds via
PM, the transaction will not be processed and funds will not be transmitted to
the Receiver.
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Anti-fraud resources:
