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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- clerk.agency@clerk.com (Clerk; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Your urgency needed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willamdolli@outlook.fr>
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2018 19:26:18 -0800
Subject: Your urgency needed
Congratulation My Dear,
We have registered your first payment of USD $5000 online through this department Western Union Money Transfer. The payment is Available to pick up by receiver but you cannot be able to pick it because is On-hold for none Tax Insurance charges of $145.
Just confirm your first payment with below instruction.
Open this website: https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfer
As soon you open the website enter this tracking number: 4855682023
As soon you enter the tracking number click Track Transfer to confirm by yourself.
You will pay $145 for Tax Insurance charges so that this first payment will be release out from on-hold in order to able pick it up by you. Go and send the Tax Insurance charges of $145 to below information through western union office or money gram transfer office and let us know immediately.
Receiver Name: ADJO ATAKPAME
Country: Benin republic.
City: Cotonou
Question: When?
Answer: Now
Amount: USD $145 only
Your should forward a copy of your payment receipt/information's to headquarter email address through (clerk.agency@clerk.com) call on +229 96500024 for confirmation and immediate transfer the fund USD $5000 to you instant/once the service payment USD $145 only
Waiting to receive a copy of the payment receipt
Call on +229 96500024
Regard,
Dr.Robert Cheeley
Director Clerk Agency Western Union
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Anti-fraud resources:
