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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- westernunion01471@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION SERVICE <dhsdesk0001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion01471@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2022 18:05:18 -0700
Subject: WESTERN UNION SERVICE
--
Dear Customer
You are getting this message in regards of your funds the sum of $2.5
million USD which comes from the Department of Homeland Security, the
funds has been sent to you
through Western Union and we have been waiting for you to go and pick
up your funds with the tracking number from any Western Union outlet
before it will be refunded due your delay in cashing your funds your
total funds is $2.5 Million USD for immediate release to you. But we
more clearancifcation before you will cash funds due to the
Authorization Release Permit is required in order to enable you cash
your funds immediately from any Western Union Outlet.
Track with our Website:
https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer
MTCN Tracking Number: 014-733-2537
Sender's Name: Gary Johnson
Amount: $2.5 Million USD
What we required from you now is to secure the Authorization Release
Permit, which is going to cost you $99.00 USD (only) please be aware
that this is the only
charges/fees, as soon this is done, your fund payment of $2.5 Million
USD will be release to you in less than 45 Mins for sure.
Contact our cashier's under-listed information to know how to remit
the required fee to Obtain the requested Authorization Release Permit;
Cashier's Name: Marcia Anderson
Cashier's email:westernunion01471@yahoo.com
Required Amount: $99.00USD only
We thank you for your perceived understanding and apparently your
highest level of cooperation.
Sincerely Yours,
Mrs. Maria Anderson
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Anti-fraud resources:
