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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. )
- "lagos" (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 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.
- wumthoffng@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION <atm_payment_centre_benin@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: wumthofng@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:41:06 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Urgent reply now
FINANCE MINISTRY OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
FOREIGN CONTRACTORS PAYMENT OFFICE
Email Contact; wumthoffng@gmail.com
Attention Our Dear Customer,
We have transfered your first payment of $6000.00 today and it is available for pick up by you but you can't pick it until you send the $109.00 to renew your payment files from IMF.
You should have receive it today if you you do as i told you before but is not late yet,you are advised to proceed to the western union to make the payment and send us the payment information to receive it.
Be rest ansured your first payment of $6000.00 will be cashable by you within 45 minutes after we received the fee of $109.00 from you.
Below is the information to receive your $6000.00 and you can track it online if you want to be sure with our website www.westernunion.com
MTCN .......MTCN: 156_209_1385
Sender's name-------JAMES ALEX
Question....GOOD?
Answer....GOOD
Amount.....$6000.00
Below is the payment information to send the $109.00 via western union money transfer.
Receiver's Name ::::::: Okeke Ijeoma.
Address:::::::::::::::: Lagos Nigeria
Question::: Colour?
Answer:::::Blue
Amount::::::$109.00
MTCN:::::::::::
Your Senders Name
I wait to hear from you as soon as you receive this mail to enable us get everything done now.
Yours in service
Secretary to Finance Minister
Federal republic of Nigeria
Western Union
Mr. Ifeanyi Okah
Welcome to Western Union
Email Contact; wumthoffng@gmail.com
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