419 scam: File Mess <office---------fi6@att.net> Your Payment OF ($1.5Million)

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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 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.
- +22998569400 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- westernunmontransferdpart211@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: File Mess <office---------fi6@att.net>
Reply-To: westernunmontransferdpart211@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:30:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Your Payment OF ($1.5Million)

Your Payment OF ($1.5Million)
Attention My Dear

I Am FRANK JOE, Barrister to Dr.Timothy Hanson. I'm writing to let you

know about your $1.5MILLION, usdollar(One Million Five HunrendThousand

USD) that my boss issued onyour name before he travelled out for his

business purpose.Before hetravels out he instructed me to send you the

total money throughWestern Union Money Transfer because it will beless

expensive andreliable for you to be receiving your daily $5000 dollar

until youreceive your total money completely. Meanwhile, the manager

statedyesterday that, the director, administrator trust funds have

alreadysigned and approved your payment,

which you will be receiving yourpayment 5000.00 Us Dollarsdaily

immediately you sent them theirtransfer charge of $55 and it will

serve as confirmation of your filepayment from the office in charge.So

you are to contact them on belowinformation. Vital Finance Bank

Western Union Department.Location Address; Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell

Street CO/B/REP,Contact Person:

Mr Tony Hubert:Tele phone Number: +229-9856-9400
Emails( westernunmontransferdpart211@gmail.com ) Be advise that the $55 is a

compulsoryas they told me that is the only money you will pay until

you receiveyour payment completely .So confirm your details to avoid

any hitchesin receiving your full payments.This is what they need from

you
Receiver'Name::::::::
Country::::::::::::::
City:::::::::::::::::
Tel::::::::::::::::::
Test question::::::::
Answer:::::::::::::::
Try to Call Mr Tony Hubert on thisline (+229-9856-9400 )Once you send

him the needed info.Also do let meknow immediately they havestarted

sending you your money, but try to comply with them to enable them

serve you better. Thank FRANK JOE, Barrister.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam