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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. )
- 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.
- western_union323232@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union" <qjao@service.898840.com>
Reply-To: western_union323232@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:13:49 -0800
Subject: international transfer permit certificate(I.T.P.C)
Attention: Beneficiary.
This Message is to inform you that your payment file has returned to our office this morning, and they returned your payment file in our office for us to start sending your funds to you through Western Union
so that you will receive $5000 twice daily until the total amount scheduled in our office is completely sent to you.
Noticed for past years what made you not receive your funds from our office is due to the Bank having not approved your funds and also you don't have an international transfer permit certificate(I.T.P.C) which
will help you in receiving your payment from any Western Union money transfer in your Area.
Note that the only fee you are going to pay is $75 for the international transfer permit certificate(I.T.P.C) Here are your transaction details again:
Money Transfer Reference number:# 092-494-0743
Senders Name:James Willie
Amount Sent:$5000
You can track your MTCN through this link
https://www.westernunion.com/ca/en/web/global-service/track-transfer Western Union money transfer tracking numbers are available in progress
and you will pay the $75 today to enable you to pick up your first transaction.
PLEASE YOU ARE REQUIRED TO RECONFIRM THIS INFORMATION BELOW.
Your full name.....
your contact address...
your country......
your city......
your phone number....
your age /m/f...........
your ID card........
I will be looking up to your email response
Please if you are still willing to receive all your money, please we beg you in the name of God to avoid you blaming us here, and I'm here to give you 100%Assurance that once you send the $75.00 give me(25 minutes ) ahead receive your money today, and don't forget that the total amount of your fund is 10.5 million USD And don't forget to buy any of the listed Card iTunes Card. $75 Or Steam Wallet card and attach the copy if you cannot be able to attach just send us only the card PIN, OK?
Mr. Michael Williams
E-mail: western_union323232@hotmail.com
Remittance Dept.Western Union Uganda Constituency.
Western Union money transfer.
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