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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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: " Money Transfer " <westernunion@wu.it>
Reply-To: afdbanking52@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:47:46 +0100
Subject: Receive Money Now
ADDRESS: ORABANK – GANHI
AVENUE DU GOUVERNEUR WILLIAM
PONTY GANHI, COTONOU BENIN
TEL: (+229) 58 73 06 08
Dear Customer
It has come to our notice via our central monitoring computer Laptop that a huge fund has been credited in your name for transfer with a Western Union Under the stipulated enabling Law of the Government of Great Western Union Money Transfer Bank and Wales and other Commonwealth States. We presently send you the first payment of $2500.00 USD this morning from Western Union, so you are requested to contact us now with your information Name/Address/city.Age. Note: we can do the normal procedure on your payment of $3.500.000.00 Million which is activating the files to enable you to pick up your money at any western union office around your home. Here is the MTCN 889 804 4640 Send us your query via email and we will contact you as soon as possible.
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have, just write us an email or talk to our representative by phone
Best Regards.
Paul Kelvin
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Anti-fraud resources:
