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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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "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 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: Western Union Money Transfer <officeailunservice@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Western Union Money Transfer <westernuniontrasnfer@mail.ru>
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2015 09:37:46 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR FIRST PAYMENT HAS BEEN RELEASED
Western Union Under Ecobank Head Office Plc has finalized all the necessary arrangement and your fund 1.800, 000.00 Million USD has been approved by the board of directors of ECOBANK, and you will be receiving 5000 USD per day.
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Our attorney will go to the Inland Revenue tax office to obtain a letter of administration tax clearance approval on your behalf from high Court for the first payment sent bellow:
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Sender's First Name: Daniel
Sender's Last Name: Aueril
Sender's Country: Benin Republic
Sender's City: Cotonou
Amount Sent 5,000 USD
MTCN# 0716797753 (AVAILABLE)
Text Question: When
Text Answer: Now
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You are endeavor to send the following information to the Western Union manager Benin Republic in the person of  Mathiu Edward whom is in charge of your fund for the activation of the payment above;  in the right data for you to be able to pick it up from your location.
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As bellow to enable you pick up your first payment today.
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Receiver Name--------------
You’re Country--------------------
Your City-----------------------
Your Age-----------------------
Your Sex-----------------------
Telephone ---------------
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Forward the information to the Esq. in charge of your transfer immediately and call him and ask him what you need to do for the activation of your first payment in right data for your immediate pick up today:
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Note: you will have to pay $95USD for Tax Clearance so as to have your first payment activated in the right data for your immediate pickup from any western union agent location close to you.
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NAME: SIR. MATHIU EDWARD
TEL: +229-67635472 Call
TEL: +229-99750929 Text
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 Ecobank Secretary,
Ms. Anita William.
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Anti-fraud resources:
