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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- 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.
- westernuniondeunionde7@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Susan Uda <sakonnakhon@mol.go.th>
Reply-To: Mrs Susan Uda <westernuniondeunionde7@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2016 00:58:33 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: MTCN..... 0026428391
Send Money Worldwide
MONEY GRAM TRANSFER OFFICE
FROM THE DESK OF MR. UDE EMEKA
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE
TELEPHONE ... +229 989 742 21
Attention:
We have sent your first payment of $5,000 dollars to you this morning
and here is the payment information to pick up the money in any
western union agent around you.
MTCN..... 0026428391
Text Question ... N/A
Answer ... N/A
Amount ... $5,000
Sender Name... Julius Nze
Before you go to western union to pick up the money you have to track
it to make sure that the money is available to pick it by receiver,
also you have send the sum of $57 dollars transfer charges so that you
can be able to pick up your $5,000 today
Here is the information to send the $57 dollars transfer charges.
Receiver ... Ude Emeka
Country ... Benin Republic
City ... Cotonou
Text Question ... When
Answer ... Now
Amount ... $57
MTCN.....
Sender Name.....
Sender Country.....
As soon as your make the payment you will pick up your money immediately
I look forward for your urgent response,
MR. UDE EMEKA Western Union
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC: NO: 192 AKIL ROAD
TELEPHONE NUMBER (+229 989 742 21)
E-Mail ... (westernuniondeunionde7@gmail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
