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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. )
- "cotonou" (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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Jack hill" <officeservices88@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jack hill" <info.westernunionm@qq.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2015 05:20:27 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5000.00 HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU TODAY. (MTCN: 8398670833):
YOUR
FIRST PAYMENT OF $5000.00 HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU TODAY. (MTCN: 8398670833):
How are
you doing today? I write to inform you that we have already
sent you
$5000.00 usd dollars through Western union as we have been
given the
mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum
of $2.7
Million USD via western union by this government .I was
calling
your telephone number to give you the information through
phone but
you did not pick up my calls through out that night.
Now I
decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you will
pick up
the $5000.00 usd to enable us send another $5000.00 usd today
as you
know we will be sending you only $5000.00 usd per day and it
was agree
that you will pay the sum of $55.00 before they will release
the
payment to $55
Track the
information now to see that it is there.
Sender Name: Mike Idigo
Text
Question: yes
Text
Answer: yes
Amount:
$5,000 Dollars
MTCN:
8398670833
Here's
the info to send the $55.00
Receivers
name......Anthony Ofor
Country.................Benin
Republic
City...............Cotonou
Question:
how long?
Amount======$55
Answer:45
minutes
Be advise
that the $55.00 is a compulsory as they told me that is only
money you
will pay until you receive your payment completely and you
have to
re-confirm your full Name and home address and direct phone
number to
avoid any e wrong deposit okay. I am waiting for your call
once you
pick up this $5000.00 usd, please email me your direct
telephone
number because I need to be calling you once we send any
payment
for the information. Please follow our instruction you will
never
regret knowing me in your life then, you will receive your first
of
$5000.00 within 45 minutes after receiving the money from you
Here is
the information the western union office need from you.
Your full
name
your
country
your
phone numbers
your age
Your
occupation
Thank,
Mr. Jack
hill
Email:
click reply to see the email for security reason
Phone
number +22968822194
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Anti-fraud resources:
