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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. )
- "tax 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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "foreign service manager" (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)
- "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)
- "eurounionpean@outlook.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: PAYMENT OFFICE <airportsssbenin@gmail.com>
Reply-To: eurounionpean@outlook.fr
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 19:23:34 +0100
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT,
ATTN:
In view of the information supplied by you. How ever I have
recommended you for payment to the commissioner for South African
Reserve Bank for payment of your fund.
Finally, you will be required to pay the fee of $210.00 USD (Two
Hundred and Ten United States Dollars only), or its equivalent in your
local currency. The brake down is as follows: -
TRANSFER CHARGES ($100.00 USD)
PROCESSING FEE; ($10.00 USD)
TAX FEE; ($100.00 USD)
TOTAL FEES; ($210.00) USD
You will pay the $210.00 USD with that receiver’s details through
Western Union Money Transfer for you to make the immediate payment.
Contact us here for your payment(eurounionpean@outlook.fr)
This payment is to cover handling charges and bank commission and
taxes. Note that your £2,500,000.00 GBP (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND GREAT BRITAIN POUNDS)ONLY with (INSURANCE
Number:FLS433/453L/GMSA / (Serial-- Number: 513-10) has been insured
to the real value and as such there is no deduction. This is in
accordance with article 44 subsection 144 of the South African
Treasury Dept regulation as adopted on 8 May 1996 and amended on the
11 October 1996 by constitutional assembly. This is to protect our
clients and to
avoid misappropriation of funds.
Best Regards.
REV. MICKEAL LUO (PhD)
(FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER}
N.B, ALL PAYMENT WILL BE MADE ON OR BEFORE THREE DAYS; A COPY SHOULD
BE SCANED TO OUR HEAD OFFICE AS PROOF OF PAYMENT.
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Anti-fraud resources:
