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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. )
- "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. )
- 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: "MR.JACK SMITH" <"WWW."@orion.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR.JACK SMITH" <jackssmith109@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2017 01:00:28 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
WESTERN UNION REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT.
ADRESS: 501 W Appleway Ave Ste F Coeur D Alene.
TELEPHONE +1(202)852-3474
OFFICE:+1(602)726-6936
PLACE: Bsic
Inline image 6
DEAR VALUABLE CUSTOMER
THANKS FOR CONTACTING US IN REGARD OF YOUR FUNDS WORTH THE SUM OF USD2.000 000 WHICH WAS DEPOSITED HERE BY MRS.ROBERTA ADAMS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RE-CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (IBRD WORLD BANK AND ALSO APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE RESPONDS DUE TO LACK OF BEING CHANCE TO OFFICE SERVING LOCAL CUSTOMERS HERE IN RESPECT OF FACT, THESE FUNDS WAS DEPOSITED ON YOUR BEHALVES TO BE TRANSFER TO YOU BY OUR WESTERN UNION OFFICE INSTALL MENTALLY USD5,000 EVERY DAY TILL THE TOTAL RECIPIENT OF YOUR TOTAL FUNDS DEPOSITED HERE AND NOTE THAT WE HAVE SENT THE FIRST PAYMENT TO YOUR NAME WITH THE OTHER INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED TO US AS REQUIRED.
HERE IS THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST TRANSFER TODAY.
SENDERS NAME: Jack Smith
REF NUMBER:# 747 881 1276,
CITY: Coeur d'Alene
COUNTRY:USA
NOW YOUR PAYMENT IS READY AND AVAILABLE IN YOUR NAME TO BE PICK UP BY YOU AND THE SECOND PAYMENT WILL BE SEND TO YOU BY TOMORROW MORNING MY TIME BUT WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT ACCORDING TO OUR PDT SYSTEM PROTOCOLS DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TRANSFERRING TO YOU IS VERY LARGE THEN YOUR PAYMENT FILE NEED TO BE ACTIVATE SO THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE PROBLEM IN PICKING YOUR MONEY IN ANY OF OUR BRANCH OFFICE IN YOUR CITY AND THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR PAYMENT FILE IS TOTAL SUM $158 ONLY AND THAT IS THE ONLY FEE THAT YOU NEED TO PAY IN THIS SERVICE UNTIL THE TOTAL RECIPIENT OF YOUR ENTIRE FUNDS FUNDS DEPOSITED TO YOUR NAME.
OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION: /// KINDLY USE THE BELLOW INFORMATION AND PROCEED TO NEAR BY MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION AND THEN SEND THE ACTIVATION FEE AND GET BACK TO US WITH THE REF. NUMBER.
FEEL FREE TO CALL ANY OF OUR BRANCH OFFICE IN YOUR LOCATION TO CONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT ONLINE AND NOTE THAT FAILURE TO SEND ACTIVATION FEE OF $200 BEFORE PICKING UP THE INFORMATION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE SO KINDLY GO AHEAD AND SEND THE ACTIVATION FEE BEFORE PICKING UP THE INFORMATION
SEND THE ACTIVATION FEE TO OUR CASHIER ACCT. INFORMATION AS:
RECEIVERS NAME:Kathleen L. Brandt
COUNTRY: USA
STATE: IDAHO
AMOUNT: $200.ONLY
TREAT THIS ISSUE AS MATTER OF URGENT TO ENABLE YOU PICK UP YOUR 5,000 TODAY AND FEEL FREE TO CALL US +1(602)726-6936
THANKS FOR BANKING WITH US AND WE PROMISE TO GIVE YOU THE BEST OF SERVICE AS OUR VALUED NEW CUSTOMER
THANKS
MR.Jack Smith
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
WESTERNUONION PAYMENT CENTER
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Anti-fraud resources:
