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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- western.union10@bk.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION <unitednations8384@gmail.com>
Reply-To: western.union10@bk.ru
Date: Sun, 8 May 2022 05:37:13 -0700
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT!
VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT!
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform you we've sent your first payment of $5000.00 (Five
Thousand dollars) through Western Union as we have been given the
mandate to transfer your full compensation fund total sum of $1.5m
(US$1,500,000.OO) via Western Union by the United Nations in
conjunction with Benin Republic Ministry Of Finance.
I was instructed to email you the payment information which include
Reference MTCN#(Money Transfer Control Number) and sender's name so
that you can pick up your first payment of $5000.00 to enable us send
another payment of $5000.00 by tomorrow as you know we shall be
sending you only $5000.00 per day.
Please copy this payment information below and go to any Western Union
office/outlet closer to you to receive this payment of $5000.00 and
get back to us to send you another payment by tomorrow.
Use the below info to pick up your first payment $5000.00 now.
MTCN#: 385 401 2590
Sender Names: Waleed Omarh,
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic
Amount sent: $5000.00 USD.
WhatsApp this number as soon as you have received this payment.
You can also track your payment online by login
to(https://www.westernunion.com/tracktransfer before you go to any
Western Union outlet/office close to you to pick up the money.
Fill The Form Below For reconfirmation purpose..
1. Name...
2. Address...
3. Country...
4. Telephone Number...
5. Sex & Age...
Your urgent response is needed in this matter.
Kind Regards,
Mr Theophilus Albert
General Manager
E-mail: ( western.union10@bk.ru )
WhatsApp: ( +229 53 33 25 45 )
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
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Anti-fraud resources:
