joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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:
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • +2348032280709 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +22993153383 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: christianmba@live.com
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:10:55 -0800
Subject: Western Union Payments


*Western Union** Payments*



*OCEANIC BANK PLC *

*Western Union*

*Send Money Worldwide*

*Dr.* *MUJI CHIKE*

*Address; St, Peter & Paul *

*Road Cotonou Benin Rep.*





*DEAR*,

* *

*There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of
$200.000.00 USD Two hundred thousand united state dollars directed in cash
credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address. *
* *
*The INTERNATIONALMONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple
of hours ago due to your allocated security code. They said that they choose
to send it to an email address instead of a name. *
* *
*We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we
require some more information in order to complete this transfer. *
* *
*FULL NAME:*
*FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:*
*MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:*
*OCCUPATION:*
*MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:*
* *
*In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors
Fund Verification Department: *
*(inf_wes_union_moneytransfer_202@live.com)As soon as this information is
received, and you have to complied with the requirements of payment of the
western union charges $175 USD, payment will be made to your nominated bank
account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transferring Bank.
*
* *
*Note: That this is not one of those Nigerian/African scams that all they
are after is to ripe you off your money and at the end you will not receive
your funds, but note that this is no scam and is directly from the
Management of Western Union Money Transfer United Kingdom Head Office and
our Motto is To Serve You Better. Contact us on our website on **
www.westernunion.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>* also note that you
would be responsible for any payment that is needed for the transfer of your
funds into your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from the
Western Union Transferring Bank. *
* *
*THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER, UNITED KINGDOM HEAD OFFICE.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY.*
*Sincerely, *
*MR. MUJI CHIKE *
* *
*www.westernunion.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>
*(inf_wes_union_moneytransfer_202@live.com) Western Union(R) Welcome to
Western Union Phone:+229-9315-3383 or +23480322-80709Send Money Worldwide.*
*www.westernunion.co.uk* <http://www.westernunion.co.uk/>


............................................................................................................................................


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:

This e-mail, including any attachments,contains information from Mr Drazzell
Benben, Western Union Benin Republic Manager Group, Inc, which may be
confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of
the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient,
be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents
of this information is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in
error, please notify the sender immediately by "reply to sender only"
message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication,
including attachments.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam