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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. )
- "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.
- westernud@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: westernunion office <file---note1@att.net>
Reply-To: westernud@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 23:46:10 -0800 (PST)
Subject: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION FROM WESTERN UNION
Attention Dear!!!
How are you today?I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 usd dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of $7.6Million USD,via western union by our government.
I was calling your telephone number to give you the information through phone but you did not pick up my calls through out that yesterday even this morning.Now,I decided to email you on how to pick up the $5000.00 usd to enable us send another $5000.00 usd today as you know we will be sending you only $5000.00 usd per day and it was agreed that you will pay the sum of $98 before they will release the payment to you.
Please get back to us on the receipt of this message so that we shall give you you the informations to run to western union to pick up the $5000.00 usd and call Director of Operation Dr. Douglas Hall because he is the person in charge of your payment so that he can send you another payment today
Email:(westernud@hotmail.com)
Telephone phone line +229 98 977 357
Email and call him on the receipt of this message for him to direct you on how to pick up the first $5000.00 USD today immediately you sent them their updating charge of $98 and it will serve as re-confirmation of your file payment from the office in charge.
So you are to re-confirm to them the below information,
Your Receiver name--------
Your Country------
Your City-----------
Your Tel No----------
Your Text question------
Your Answer-----------
Your Passport--------
And We Are Waiting For You To Send The $98 Today
RECEIVER-------------FIDELLS .O. NDIGWE
LOCATION CITY---------COTONOU-BENIN
COUNTRY-----------------BENIN
TEXT QUESTION--HOW LONG?
ANSWER-----------TODAY
AMOUNT--------------$98.Only
Be advise that the $98 is a compulsory as they told me that is only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely I am waiting for your call once you pick up this $5000.00 usd,Please email me your direct telephone number because I need to be calling you once we send any payment for the information.
Regards
Rev.james keita(ESQ)
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