419 scam: "MR. ERIC DON" <dag_k@yahoo.cn> ATTENTION HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- +22994986636 (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.
- unionwestern@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. ERIC DON" <dag_k@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: unionwestern@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:58:37 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ATTENTION HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

WELCOME
TO WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER

Contact Person: MR. ERIC DON

Tell
phone Number: +229-94986636
Attention, Happy New Year 2013,

I write to
inform you that we have already sent you $5,000.00USD through Western Union as
we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of
$4.500,000.00USD via Western Union Money Transfer by the United Nations and
ECOWAS. COMMISSION. $4.500,000.00 cash ,

We found your email among the United Nation
lottery winner as a winner.

This is because United
Nations and ECOWAS And UNITED NATION are supporting individuals due to the
worldwide economy meltdown. and our head office and we are offering a special
Season bonus to all those among to be able to pick there fund, you have to send
$39.00 for the activation of your fund transfer paper permit, the Normal cost of
the activation is $238.00 but we offer special season bonus that is why it
lowdown to $39.00 ok,
I would have requested for your phone number to give
you the information through phone but internet hackers were
many.

So i decided to email you the MTCN and sender
name so that you can pick up this $5,000.00 to enable us send another $5,000.00
by tomorrow as you know that we will be sending you only $5,000.00 per
day.

The fund was send in the name which you use in
opening your e-mail address. Please pick up this information and rush to any
western union to pick up the $5,000.00 but Remember that before going to pick
the money you must first sent the $39.00 for the activation of your
international paper permit activation, if you go to pick the money and you did
not send the $39.00 the western union in your country will no release the $5000
to you why becuase your paper permit is not been activation, so we shall no
posted the payment until you have sent the $39.00,

Remember the faster you do the faster we release the
payment of $5000 to you today so that tomorrow you shall pick the next $5000
too OK,

Please,contact :ERIC DON ( Foreign Operation Director ) with
the $39.00 with this information below also is their Email: unionwestern@hotmail.fr

Go to any Western Union and send the $39.00 with this
Information below,

Receiver Name ::::::::
Mr.Lowrence Obalimu
Country :::::::: Benin
Republic
City :::::::: Parakon
Question :::::::: what color
Answer
:::::::: Blue
Amount :::::::: $39.00
Money Transfer Control Number
:::::::: (M.T.C.N)
Sender's full name ::::::::
Sender's Address
::::::::
Sender's Dirctphone number ::::::::

Do not forget to furnish him with the below data
for further transfer of the fund to you to avoid any mistake and before He give
you the mtcn to pick your first $5000 you must first sent the $39.00 for the
activation of your international paper permit.

Remember
there is no time to delay because we shall soon enter Season
Holidays,

1. Your receiver
Names: ..........
2. Your current cell phone Number:.....
3. Your City:
...............
4. Your: Country:...............
5. Age......
Sex.......

I am waiting for your email once you pick up the
$5,000.00USD,

Thanks

ATTENTION HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam