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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. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- 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.
- westernuniontransfer926@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: PAYMENT PORTFOLIO <payment_port@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: PAYMENT PORTFOLIO <westernuniontransfer926@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 01:13:47 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
Attention Dear Esteemed Beneficiary.
The Board of the federal ministry of finance Benin republic West Africa are here to
notify you of your payment inherited funds of ($4.5million usd) after the meeting
held on 7th of SEPT 2014. His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC
OF BENIN' DR YAYI BONI has Instructed this Department to send your funds
through western union money transfer for easier receive of your
inherited payment without any further delay to avoid paying money to the
fraudsters that is going on through the global. you are required to send
your name and address where you want your fund to be transferred through western
union and note that the maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from
today is the sum of ($5000.00 usd) until the total amount deposited here is fully transferred
kINDLY RECONFIRM YOUR INFORMATION AS LISTED BELOW FOR THE TRANSFER OF YOUR INHERITED PAYMENT.
Beneficiary name......................
Address...............................
Country................................
City...............................
I.d copy..................................
occupation.............................
Age...................................
Sex...................................
Tel phone..............................
Contact us with this information below:
CONTACT PERSON: MR.KEVIN ANTHONY
Telephone: +229-99757638
EMAIL:(westernuniontransfer926@yahoo.co.uk)
we await your urgent response soon to enable us commence on the release of your first payment of ($5000.00 usd)
today so that we can be able to direct another payment tomorrow as we are instructed.
  Â
Thanks for adhering to this instruction.
Reply accordingly for more directives
Yours in service
MRS THERSA BELLO (ESQ).
WESTERN UNION AND Finance Ministry
Federal republic of Benin.
   Â
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Anti-fraud resources:
