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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:
- 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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Harry patter <toto@mju.ac.th>
Reply-To: <westmed.transfer@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:05:51 +0400
Subject: $10,000 Usd Sent
I Have been instructed to send the western union details to you for pick up,the 1st and 2nd mtcn have been sent
also call me on below numbers For confirmation of the mtcn numbers
Regards
Chief Sir Harry Patter
New Wumt Instructor
Gen Manager
PHONE:+447-03195-7601
PHONE:+447-03193-3975
PHONE:+44702 408 1650
PHONE:+447-077075-680
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Sending E-mail is a personal execution.
The original affiliation and Maejo University will not contribute to any executions,
which contrary to the act of computer related violation in year 2007 or other regulations.
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การส่งจดหมายอิเล็กทรอนิกส์นี้เป็นการกระทำส่วนบุคคล
หน่วยงานต้นสังกัดและมหาวิทยาลัยแม่โจ้
จะไม่รับผิดชอบผลจากการกระทำดังกล่าวใดๆ ทั้งสิ้น
ที่ขัดต่อพรบ.ว่าด้วยการกระทำความผิดเกี่ยวกับคอมพิวเตอร์ ปี 50 หรือ กฏหมายอื่นๆ
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Anti-fraud resources:
