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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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- 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.
- westernmoney1166@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: western union <info@westernunion.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: westernmoney1166@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 May 2019 09:28:34 +0100
Subject: Ref No: 173***2590
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ATTN:
This is to inform you that the IMF office instructed us to transfer your $2.5
Million Dollars compensating for all the SCAM VICTIMS and your email were found
as one of the VICTIMS By IMF Security leading team and IMF representative
officers, so between now until 21th Of Nov. 2019 you will be receiving a sum of
$5000 dollars per day.
However you are informed that we have already sent the first $ 5000 dollars this
morning to you to avoid cancellation of your payment.
You have only 48 hours to Email this office upon the receipt of this Email the
maximum amount you will be receiving per a day is $5000.
So we have released your first payment of today and below is the payment detail.
SENDERS FIRST NAME: Marko
SECOND NAME: Zoltan
TEST QUESTION: WHEN
ANSWER: TODAY
AMOUNT: $5000 USD
MTCN: 1737982590
Western Union tracking link:
https://www.westernunion.com/global-service/track-transfer
NOTE: Kindly track your first payment of $5,000 and confirm the availability
because it is currently on hold because of the instruction from IMF office, they
asked us to place it on hold by requesting a Clean Bill Record Certificate in
order to fulfill the entire necessary obligation So that we will start sending
you the payment through Western Union Money transfer system.
The necessary Obligation I mean here is to obtain the Clean Bill Record
Certificate from the Federal High Court.
So provided the below information:
YOUR FULL NAMES .............
YOUR ADDRESS: ...............
YOUR PHONE NUMBER ...........
AGE .........................
SEX: ........................
Further more you advised to call us as the instruction was passed that Within 48
hours without hearing from you, Count your payment canceled.
Number to call is below listed manager director office and Do not hesitate to
call us on +1 414 999 1995 as soon as you read this mail and email us with all
your details.
Email: westernmoney1166@gmail.com
Phone: +1 347 619 0101
Thanks
Mr. Larry Genesis
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Anti-fraud resources:
