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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. )
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- 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: abrown@toucansurf.com
Reply-To: paulettecook@779-bankunited.com
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 21:33:45 +0000
Subject: Re:Account ID 0332-1948-1936-6654
We are informing you of our successful arrangement to transfer your full
compensation Refund of $15.8million dollars via a new banking system of
Online Transfers from existing Bank United accounts that qualify for offers
account.For funds withdrawal Receipt Depositor's Agreement Terms and
Conditions for additional information.We will no more also will not to be
delivered to you by Western Union/Money Gram/DHL/FedEx/UPS due to many
unforeseen fees and charges they kept demanding,your fund ($15.8million) is
now with Bank United under the control our online account department has
informed the Department of Homeland Security U.S.(DHS) to protected under
Federal law from discrimination.However attachment bellow is my working ID
so i think that will be OK for you to know who you are working to enable us
setup the online account on your behalf and move your $15.8million into the
online account so that you can transfer to any bank of your choice.Moreover;
All you have to do is immediately contact Director of Homeland Security Mr
Lexie Grosslight email:lexiegrosslight@dept-homelandsecurity.org +1 717 685
3263 via E-mail for instructions obtain your Document of True Ownership.
Note once Document of True Ownership submitted to us, your transaction shall
provide you with Online Banking access in which you shall use to access the
account in which funds were deposited into also be VERIFIED via this same
means.
i will Kindly look to find your response
Mrs. Paulette Cook
Head Foreign Debt Management officer United Bank
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Anti-fraud resources:
