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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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- 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.
- uwestern725@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Joy Elona" <fbioffice528@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uwestern725@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2022 22:38:47 -0700
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION
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Attention Beneficiary
I am Mrs. Joy Elona from Ministry Of Finance Head office here in Benin
Republic, the Government of this country realized that you are among
those that involved in scam victim we have in our list to Compensate
by the government of this country as instructions from United
Nation(UN) after the conference meeting we had. We have arranged your
payment of ($2,700.000.00) Two Million Seven Hundred thousand United
States Dollars to be sent to you through western union money transfer
payment.The director of administrator trust funds has already signed
your payment and you are to contact Western Union Head office to
ensure that your fund will be transferring to you once you send them
the needed information to avoid wrong transaction. According to the
demands of WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE here in Benin Republic; you are
to receive
your fund at the installment rate of $10,000.00 daily until the
($2,7Million) is completely transferred to you accordingly. You are to
contact them now with the bellow information to avoid wrong transfer.
Full Name:
Telephone Number:
House or Office Address:
Your Country:
Listen very carefully, tell Mr. Terry Young that you are advised to
contact him by Mrs. Joy Elona from Ministry Of Finance here in Benin
Republic; Bellow is their Contact Information.
Name Mr. Terry Young
Email Address: uwestern725@gmail.com
Telephone: +22951838249
Please, do not forget to update me as soon as you start receiving your
payment.Also ask them how much it will cost you for the transfer so
that you pay it to them immediately.
Best regards.
Mrs. Joy Elona
F.A in Ministry of Finance
Republic Of Benin
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Anti-fraud resources:
