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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- 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: WESTERN UNION <"WWW."@grace.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION <western.uoncenter32@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2018 03:09:03 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION ALERT #3824081707
Attention Dear;
This is to inform you that the America Embassy office was instructed to
Transfer your $1.5 Million Dollars compensating for all the SCAM
VICTIMS and your email were found as one of the VICTIMS By America
Security leading team and America representative officers, so between now
until 21th Of March 2018 you will be receiving the sum of $5000 dollars per
day. However you are informed that we have already sent
The first $ 5000 dollars this morning to you to avoid cancellation of your
payment, Remain the total sum of $1.995 Million Dollars.
You have only six hours to Email this office upon the receipt of this Email
the maximum amount you will be receiving per a day is $5000 so starting from
Today's $ 5000 Money Transfer Control Number that we have send to you is
below.
Payment Made Today.
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): #3824081707 (Available for pick up by
receiver)
SENDERS FIRST NAME: Kelly
SECOND NAME: Baker
TEST QUESTION: WHEN
ANSWER: TODAY
AMOUNT: $5000 Us Dollars
NOTE; The send $5000 is on hold because of the instruction from IMF
office, they asked us to place it on hold by requesting the Clean
Bill Record Certificate in order to fulfill the entire necessary
obligation So that we will start sending you the payment through Western
Union
Money transfer, the necessary Obligation i mean here is to obtain the
Clean Bill Record Certificate from the Federal High Court.
so provided this information below:
YOUR FULL NAMES ..........................
YOUR ADDRESS: ...........................
YOUR PHONE NUMBER ........................
CELL PHONE NUMBER ........................
AGE .....................................
SEX: ....................................
YOUR OCCUPATION......................
POSITION HELD ..........
Further more you advised to Email us as the instruction was passed that
Within 6 hours without hearing from you, Count your payment canceled and email us
with all your details.
Thanks
Mr William John
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Anti-fraud resources:
