419 scam: " WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION " <laura.perez@skillnet.com.co>

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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. )
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
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.
- fluhmann.dn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: " WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION " <laura.perez@skillnet.com.co>
Reply-To: rhbwong174@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2020 22:33:03 +0800
Subject: - YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED $850.000.00 USD -

- C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S -

YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO RECEIVE THE SUM OF $850,000.00 USD.

This Compensation / Grant is to help everyone affected by this (COVID-19) Pandemic to help and better their Lives and that of their Families.
To receive your Approved Compensation Relief Funds of $850,000.00 USD, Please Contact :

MR.MICHAEL GUNN
Grant Claims Agent / International Relations Officer.

E-MAIL : fluhmann.dn@gmail.com

Contact OR WhatsApp Us : +994 55365 8174

Best Wishes,

WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION
Compensation Department.
Este mensaje de correo electronico y sus adjuntos puede contener informacion confidencial, privilegiada o legalmente protegida y esta destinado unicamente para el uso del destinatario(s) previsto(s). Cualquier divulgacion, difusion, distribucion, copia o la toma de cualquier accion basada en la informacion aqui contenida esta prohibido. Los correos electronicos no son seguros y no se pueden garantizar que esten libre de errores, ya que pueden ser interceptados, modificados, o contener virus. Cualquier persona que se comunica con esta organizacion por e-mail se considera que ha aceptado estos riesgos. La organizacion no se hace responsable de los errores u omisiones de este mensaje y no sera responsable por danos derivados de la utilizacion del correo electronico situacion que conoce y acepta el destinatario. Cualquier opinion y otra declaracion contenida en este mensaje y cualquier archivo adjunto son de exclusiva responsabilidad del autor y no representan necesar iamente la posicion
de la empresa. Si recibe este mensaje por error, por favor notificarlo al remitente de inmediato y desecharlo de su sistema. El destinatario autoriza a la empresa remitente el tratamiento y proteccion de los datos de contacto (direcciones de correo fisico, electronico, redes sociales y telefono).

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam