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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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- westerunion995@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Antonia Lloyd." <anthonylloydatmxxx08@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westerunion909@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:17:18 -0800
Subject: Dear Email ID Owner.(USD$4000 IMF COMPENSATION FUND TO PICK UP TODAY).
Dear Email ID Owner.
The IMF is compensating all the email address that was funds as one of
the ward win Victims and your email address and your name is among the
listed one of approved to pay the sum of $3.6 million U.S Dollars. We
have concluded to effect your own payment through Western Union Money
Transfer for easy pick-up of those funds in good condition,$4000 twice
daily,till the $3.6 million is completely transferred to you.We now
need your information where we will be sending the funds,such
as;Receiver name(Your full Name)address and phone number.Contact
Western Union agent with this Email: ( westerunion995@gmail.com ) for
your payment fund.
Ms.Maria Zatto
E-mail:westerunion995@gmail.com
Telephone: +229 682 97 169
Contact Ms.Maria,immediately you get this mail through western union
email address above to enable her speed-up.your payment and release
the $4000 dollars MTCN today for you to pick up the payment OK.
You are expected to provide us with the details as prescribed below to
enable safe and easy release of your funds today.
(1)Your Full name:
(2)Your Phone number:
(3)Your Country:
(4)Your Age:
Thank you,
Dr.Antonia Lloyd.
Contact Dir.Western Union Money Transfer,
Cotonou-Benin Republic.
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Anti-fraud resources:
