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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- 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.
- wuwupayment@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Ahmed Kurutum" <customerservic8175@att.net>
Reply-To: wuwupayment@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 10:46:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Good News
Good News
I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting the fund transferred to a Swiss Account with the cooperation of a new partner from Japan who is an investor and international business merchant.
Presently I'm in Japan for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds from Benin Republic despite that it failed us somehow.
My secretary have already sent you USD4,200.00 dollars through Western union as I have mandated him to transfer your full compensation payment of the sum of USD1.8 through western union money transfer. Below is the payment information:
Senders Name : Fred Ruddell
Mtcn : 147-455-3699
Text Question: When
Text Answer: Today
Amount : $4,200.00
I told him to keep sending you $4,200 daily until the payment of $1.8m is completed.Please contact the western union agent at the below for the remaining remittance:
Email : wuwupayment@gmail.com
Tel: +22997601390
Contact person: Mr. Marya Kosi
Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy after all we passed through at that time. In the moment, I am very busy here because of the investment projects and feasibility study which I and my new partner are having at hand. I might not be chanced to my emails but I will try to keep in touch.
With best regards
Mr. Ahmed Kurutum
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