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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:
- 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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "c.s.b.i@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Richardson Matthew <fund_agency227@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 22:04:39 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATTN:
ATTN:
This is to inform you that we the officials of Central Safe Bank of Togo have carefully studied your fund processing with understanding, and the content is well noted here in our office in Lome-Republic of Togo.
We have received notice of your fund $5.5 Million dollars which was sent back from the vault of America Debt Payment center to republic of Togo due to AFRICA UNION(AU), EUROPEAN UNION (EU) and NORTHERN AMERICAN UNION (NAU) mandate of Treaty conference that just took place January this year 2014.
Ecowas government of western Africa states has given urgent order to Central Safe bank Plc to return all your fund documents to Western Union office because you are going to start receiving your fund through western union money transfer payment MTCN in your name.
Some applicants has came for the claim of the fund and to move the fund to another country without our government clear notice that is why it has been difficult for you to receive your fund since all this while and we hereby advice you to stop any communication with any other office or person contacting you about this fund because this fund is now in our care and it is or office that is going to release and transfer your fund perfectly to you through western union money transfer as soon as we hear from you after reading this mail then send and re-confirm your complete details below in other to proceed further by releasing the fund to you through
western union MTCN:
Receiver Nationality
Receiver Address
Receiver State or county
receiver Zip code
Receiver Postal address
Receiver Telephone number
Receiver Fax number
Receiver ID Card copy or Passport copy
Receiver Name
We are going to use all this your information to document your fund release certificate, before submitting your information into WESTERN UNION PAYMENT STATUS here in Republic of Togo.
We are to be giving you directives and advice on what to and you have to co-operate with our office and always check your mail box daily because we need your constant communication to enable us complete your fund payment process very soon.
Thank you for your understanding as we pause here and further wait to receive your
data from you.
Yours Faithfully,
CENTRAL SAFE BANK OF TOGO
NO 19 OLOWU EVENUE FINANCE HEAD QUATERS
LOME-REPUBLIC OF TOGO
EMAIL: c.s.b.i@outlook.com
CONTACT PERSON: MRS JANET OBOLUHI
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Anti-fraud resources:
