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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- 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: Control General <cbn_code0221@yeah.net>
Reply-To: info.centralbnknig@email.com
Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2015 20:10:51 -0200
Subject: Good day.
--
From The Desk Of Jack H. Jackson
Control General Of West Africa Money gram/ Western Union Recovery Agency
United States African Liaison House Nigeria.
Attention:
I am Jack H. Jackson a United States Citizen, Control General Of West
Africa Money gram/ Western Union Recovery Agency.This Agency was created
and approved by United States Government under the President Obama
Administration in collaboration with Nigeria Security Agency to detect
all Western Union/ Money Gram sent by any United States/ Canadian
Citizen to any part of Africa in regardless of any fund transfer and
make sure that such money is recovered and return it back to the sender.
President Obama Administration set up this Agency in Africa in
Collaboration with Nigeria Security Agency because of complain received
on floor of United States Senate on how United States Citizens loosing
their money through Money gram/ Western Union sent in any part of
Africa.
I am humble to inform you that all the money you sent through money gram
/ Western Union to Africa Nigeria has all been detected and we are
working seriously to recover them all it is promise and return them back
to you.
You need to work very closely with us to enable us achieve totally
recovery of this fund and return them back to you as law that create
this agency stated.
We have successfully without fear or favor recovered a lot of money
since over one year this agency is open in Africa Nigeria and return
such money to the senders.Please you need to urgently assist us on this
war by closely working with us, provide to us your contact telephone
number, Your address and please stated amount money you spent .
We look forward for your response.
Thanks for your Cooperation
Jack H. Jackson
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