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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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: "western union money transfer " <"www."@siren.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "western union money transfer " <www.westernunion@worker.com>
Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 06:09:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Greetings Beneficiary !!!!!
Western Union Benin Republic
31 Avenue Joseph Steinmetz.
Cotonou.in West African
Tel.: (00229-9874-0310)
monday-staurday (09:00 AM -16:00 PM)
Hello my dear, how are you today?
I want to inform you that your first payment of $5000.00 United states of American dollars has being sent for you yesterday,
after our finally meeting with our new president he order us to release your funds to you when we explain to him that you
find it difficult to send the $390.00 as it was required for you before for renewing of your payment file.So right now the
only fees you need to send is activation fees which is only $105.00
For you to know that your first payment has already sent kindly track it with the below tracking
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfersuccess
Track your payment with Only {REFERENCE}# 2669084332
This is the information you will used to send the $105.00
Receivers name: Paul Ivwaeze
Country:Benin republic
City:Cotonou
Question:in god
Answer: we trust
Amount;$105
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfersuccess
Track your payment with Only {REFERENCE}# 2669084332 ,then click track and you will confirm that your payment is ready for
you to pick it up
THANKS
Sir.Chris Newman
Directory of western union
westernunion Money Transfer Office
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Anti-fraud resources:
