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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:
- 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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- +22996703237 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- www.wu.moneytransfer01@gmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: Wilson Ben <wilsondr_ben@yahoo.co.nz>
Reply-To: www.wu.moneytransfer01@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:36:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT OUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR FIRST INSTALLMENTAL PAYMENT OF $7500 MTCN
YOUR ATTENTION
Based On Circle Board Mettings Of IMF International Monitory Funds Office Under
The Schedules Of United Nations Foundations After Long Deliberations With The
Western Union Payment Department .
We Have Received Revocable Instructions From Presidency To Re-amend All The
Payment Files Of Pended Fund Into Western Union Payment Enable Each Beneficiary
Receive Their Payment By Means Of Western Union International Payment.
Please be advised that a maximum withdrawal value of US$7500,000.00 is
permitted in daily basis until you receive your total sum of $2.500,000.00us
dollars(one million and five hundred thousand united states dollars.
And we are duly inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location of
western union office of your choice/nearest to you any where in the world. We
would have furnished you with the mtcn number for you to pick up your first
installmental payment of $7500 us dollars but due to the on-going documental
notarilization between the state federal high court with our official Supervisor
will take some time to be accomplished today
Please Contact our representative with his official informations bellow;
E-mail: ( www.wu.moneytransfer01@gmail.com)
Current phone number +2299-670-3237
Beneficiary name--
Address---
Tel phone--
and reconfirm your first installmental payment of $7500 us dollars money
transfer control numbers because we receive call from him stating that every
processe of notarilization is now perfected.
It is mandatary you call our representative with his office line +2299-670-3237
to reconfirm your first installmental payment MTCN number together with your
payment security question and answer.this is to avoid opening your mtcn and the
code word to the illegal beneficiary in mail.
We decline every responsiblity to your failure in contacting
and calling the western union supervisor as soon as possible today
Thanks
CC:WESTERN UNION GENERAL OVERSEER
cc:DELIVERY SERVICE AUTHORITY
CC;IMF AUTHORITY
CC;HON.MINISTER FOR FINANCE
CC;FBI COMMAND
Anti-fraud resources:
