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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. )
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Williams Cord" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamscord98@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2016 00:26:05 -0800
Subject: ATM INSTALLED AMOUNT:$30Million
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE
(ATM CARD DELIVERY SERVICE) WU
Swift Delivery SERVICE Agent
Website: westernunionoffice.com
YOUR ATM COFFER ACCOUNT DETAILS :-
Date of Registration: 2016/2017:
Proxy-Disk no:Z562UN8-45
Code: bz47/N986/B1PL
Paper (ex. Ordering Checks): $30Million USD
Electronic (ex. Direct Deposit/Automatic Payment):$30Million
ATM INSTALLED AMOUNT:$30Million
Dear beneficiary, Note that the Western Union Money Transfer, Cotonou Benin Republic Branch have today released your newly issued ATM Card installed with the sum of $30,000,000.00 usd for delivery. We are now authorized to deliver your ATM Card fully activated once we receive your delivery details. You are required to urgently reply this email and remit the ENDORSED service charge of $95usd only to enable us register your card for delivery by our delivery staff to your home address. The $95usd includes your ATM Card insurance and ownership certificate issued upon delivery to you. Therefore, you are not required to pay more than $95usd until the card gets to your home. Note that this card is fully activated and ready for use by you as registered by the authority. The Card will take 5 working days only to get to your home address once we receive the service charge of $95usd from you. Do not delay this message as we are ready to process it as soon as possible.
Also note here that your daily limit withdraw from the ATM Card once you receives it shall be $5,000.00 only as registered and Programmmed by the fund remittance officer.
I hope to receive your reply as soon as you can to give you details to the card usage.
let me know your details
Full name:....
delivery home address:..
city/state:...
country:..
Phone number:....
occupation:....
department:....
Thank you and best wishes.
Williams Cord
Delivery Staff/Card insurance Officer
Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
