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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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- westernunionn_01@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: tony alafuna <barr.tonyralafuna1@att.net>
Reply-To: tonyralafuna11@sify.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:08:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: your fund
Hello: Friend,
Be informed that your part-payment of (US$1,850.000.00) from
International Monetary Fund Unit (IMF) and National lottery has
approved to transfer via our department of Western Union, Meanwhile
your urgent respond is highly needed with the re-confirmation of your
details where and how to receive your funds such as follows: Your Name:
Country: State and address / direct phone.
Meanwhile payment of US$5.000.00 has already been made through Western
Union for you to pick it up, But Due to there are so many scams on the
Internet, You are required to re-confirm your name and other details as
requested above to Activate your payment files and also to ensure you
are the right person to receive the fund. Upon
receiption of the details, we shall Activate and forward the payment
details of the first transfer of US$5.000.00 to you to pick it up in
any Western Union location in your country.
You can easily get back to us via email or telephone# for more details
while the amount you will be confirming daily is (US$5.000.00) starting
from the day we receive your informations.
The details needed again as stated below is as follows:
RECEIVERS NAME:
COUNTRY:
CITY :
ADDRESS:
UR DIRECT PHONE :
Once again contact western union money transfer with the email address
below with your recieving informations.
PAYMENT MANAGER ;Mr.Douglas D.ROGERS
E-mail { westernunionn_01@sify.com }
I"m looking forward to hearing from you.
Barrister Tony.R.Aalafuna
Western Union Attorney
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Anti-fraud resources:
