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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. )
- 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: WESTERN UNION TRANSFER <imfintermf47@gmail.com>
Reply-To: www.wst.unionloto299@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:21:00 +0100
Subject: PLEASE TREAT THIS AS MATTER OF URGENCY.
ATTN:
PLEASE DON’T OVER-LOOK THIS E-MAIL.
MY DEAR THIS IS MY (10) GOOD YEARS WORKING UNDER (WESTERN UNION)
OFFICE AND I HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD SO FAR AND IT WILL NOT START IN
YOUR OWN TIME RATHER YOU WILL SHOWS YOUR APPRECIATION TO ME BY SENDING
ME A GIFT ONCE THIS TRANSFER FINALIZE AND YOU HAVE YOUR FUND RECEIVED
AS I PROMISE YOU FROM THE BEGINNING.
YOU AND I KNOWS THAT THERE IS SO MANY SCAMS IS GOING AROUND THE GLOBAL
WORLD TODAY USING NAMES OF BANKS OFFICES AND COMPANY’S TO SCAM MONEY
OUT FROM INNOCENT PEOPLE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY BODY IS A
SCAM.
AS IT STANDS NOW, I HAVE NOTING TO PROVE MYSELF THAT I AM NOT AMONG
THE SCAMMERS UNTIL I FULFILLED MY PROMISE BY GETTING YOUR FUND
TRANSFER TO YOU, THAT IS ONLY WAY I CAN PROVE MYSELF INNOCENT IN THIS
MATTER AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I’M DOING SOFAR BY TRY MY BEST TO MAKE
SURE YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUND (ATM).
I FEEL THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE NOW IS NOT THAT YOU DON’T HAVE MONEY TO
SEND BUT LACK OF TRUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN CHEATED MANY TIMES WITH
THIS TRICK OF SENDING MONEY TO MINE PEOPLE TO RELEASE YOUR FUND .
ALTHOUGH, I AM NOT AGAINST WHAT YOU HAVE SAID BECAUSE OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING TO PEOPLE IN THIS GLOBLE WORLD TODAY.
WHICH I KNOW THAT AFTER THIS CHARGE AND OBTAIN THOSE DOCUMENTS YOUR
FUND WILL BEEN TRANSFER TO YOU ,KINDLY GIVE ME THIS LAST CHANCE AND
TRUST AND SEE IF I WILL NOT FULFILLED MY PROMISE TO YOU BY GETTING
YOUR FUND TO YOU WITH OUT ANY FURTHER DELAYS AND REMEMBER THAT THIS
WILL BE MY LAST CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF INNOCENT,I HAVE SCAN MY ID SO
YOU TO KNOW WHOM YOU DEALING WITH.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
SEND THE FEE $50 VIA APP ITUNES CARD.
THANKS AS I WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE.
RESPECTIVELY
PLEASE TREAT THIS AS MATTER OF URGENCY.
SINCERELY YOURS,
MRS. CHANTEL OBASI.
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Anti-fraud resources:
