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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "lagos" (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 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.
- westernuturkeyy@gmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernuturkeyy@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 15:56:25 -0600
Subject: Western Uunio Alert !!
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
NIGERIA /ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU,ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS LAGOS.
WEB SITE.www.westernunion.com
Email to-: Beneficiary
The Board of federal ministry of finance Republic Nigeria are hereby to notify
you of your payment inheritance funds of US$1,000,000 (One Million Us
Dollars)after the meeting held on
10th of April 2009. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
(DR UMARU MUSA YARADUA) has Instructed this Department to send your Funds
through our westernunion money transfer, for easy receive of your inheritance
funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the
fraudstars that is going on through internet now.
You are required to send your name and address Where you want your fund to be
send to you through WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
The maximium amount you will be receiving per a day starting from tomorrow is
$7000.00) and the MTCN NO# will be sent along with the Text Questions &
Answers
for you to receive your fund through any Western Union Location in your
Country.
Send your inforrmation to our paying officer Mr. Ghazi Tom. of westernunion
money transfer in
Turkey Intanbul.
You are require to pay for the activation fee which will cost you the sum of
$300us
dollars to them so your transfer can start immediately.
Beneficiarey name--------------
Contact Address-----
Telephone Number----------------------
Country........................
For further procedure Contact our payment officer with the information below.
Attention; Mr. Ghazi Tom
Emain:westernuturkeyy@gmail.com
tel:+905428724670
Western Union Money Transfer
Try to fill the Above Informations where they will be sending you your money .
Yours in service.
Mr. Samuel Jake.
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Anti-fraud resources:
