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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- 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.
- westernunionoffice491@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: RICHARD DAVIES <www.@sound.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: RICHARD DAVIES <westernunionoffice491@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2018 19:13:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION TRANSFER ## 7319376510
This message is from Federal ministry of finance office under the ( ECOWAS ) we are to let you know that We have finally concluded with ( ECOWAS ) of Africa
Benin Republic to release your payment worth $500.000.00 thousand US Dollars to you through Western Union which total payment going to be receive each day is
$2500.00 and First payment has been send: First #MTCN 7319376510 but you have to (Re-new Your Payment File) today before you will receive it
I told him to keep sending you $2500.00 daily until the payment of $500.000.00 thousand US Dollars is completed, again re-confirm your address to avoid
sending it to wrong person, so that they will be sure;
YOU’RE NAME.........
COUNTRY.............
PHONE NO............
ADDRESS/CITY........
AGE/SEX.............
A copy of your Id....
Please find below, your information to pick up the first sent $2500.00 USD and upon pick up by you, another detail we be sent again and I want you to track
https://secure.Western Union/track you will see that the money is there
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/tracktransfer
Use the below info to pick up your money now.
MTCN ::::::::::#MTCN 7319376510
Amount: $2500.00 USD
Call Mr. Richard Davies on this number +1(204) 8174339 once you are back from Western Union.
Please, contact: Mr.Richard Davies To the below
E-mail (westernunionoffice491@yahoo.com)
Telephone: +1(204) 8174339
Contact him to give you Sender Name & Question and Answer to pick up your money today ok and let me know when you confirm it all.
Regards
Mrs.Janet Anderson
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Anti-fraud resources:
