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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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- marggysmith00@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Bintou James <wsucenter1@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: marggysmith00@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 29 May 2016 10:12:57 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Western Union Payment Approval..
Attn: My Dear
We have arranged your payment of $1.5Million One Million five hundred thousand united state dollars Previously withheld by control offices.Your
payment will be sent to you by western union.
The joint committee discovered with great dismay that your name with this email address is on the list of beneficiaries whose payment has not been paid and unnecessarily delayed by corrupt officials of the Banks.
The Good news is that an irrevocable payment approval has been issued by the World Bank group to release your part-payment through Western Union Money payment Scheme.
We wish to inform you that your part - payment $1,500,000 USD has been officially approved for payment through Western Union Money Transfer, the UN
accredited payment coordinator (Rev Martins Smith) will send your daily payment of $5,000 USD to your name until your total payment is completed so urgently contact the Regional Coordinator Rev Martins Smith at (
marggysmith00@yahoo.co.jp ) and reconfirm your daily payment receiver's details below.
(1) Receiver's Name....
(2) Receiver's Address ........
(3) Telephone/ Cell # ......
(4) Test Question ......
(5) Test Answer ........
Contact Rev Martins Smith who is currently expecting your contact at the Benin Regional payment Center, He will assist you in transferring your funds by Western Union as approved so make sure you give him your profound cooperation to avoid undue delays.
Be advised you STOP all further communications with everyone regarding this payment and keep this communication highly confidential to avoid
interception of information that might lead to double claim or loss of any part of your approved daily payment as scheduled.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Bintou James
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Anti-fraud resources:
