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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)
- "westeruniononeyransfer07@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.
- 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: David White <weseesztwwqarw@cello.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: David White <westeruniononeyransfer07@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2015 20:08:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Congratulations! From Western Union Money Transfer($2.700`000`00
USD)
Congratulations! From Western Union Money Transfer.
This is to inform you that your fund of ($2.700`000`00 USD) has been released and the transfer began today through western union money transfer. After the meeting we hold on Friday being 11/12/2015 we concluded that your fund $2.700`000`00 USD will be transfer to you maximum of $5000 par day until your total money will send to you. So you required to contact the Western Union Director Dr. David White with this information below, and also remember to re-confirm your personal details to enable then update your payment file.
Contact Person: Director. Dr.David White,
Emails: (westeruniononeyransfer07@outlook.com )
Telephone Number: +229 (9965 5284)
Meanwhile he has already sent your first payment of $5000 in your name today which your advice to track it for your verification with tracking on this Western Union website https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=TW
Sender Name: RONEL VIERA
MTCN: 6386574289
Amount Sent: $5000.00
Noted: That Only thing needed now is (INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER PERMIT CERTIFICATE), so contact the western union Director Dr. David White to obtain the document for them to allow you to pick up your first installation payment below, and it will cost you only $125 USA dollars.
Finally you advice to make it urgent by sending the needed fee to enable Dr. David White obtain the document send the fee to this information below.
Receiver Name: Wiwa Mark
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Text Question: == When
Text Answer:=== Urgent
Amount: ====== $125 dollars
It Still Pending Till the certificate is obtain before you to pick up the money.
Regards
Mr. John Gomez
western union Agent.
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