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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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- +447075004698 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- westernunionffc201@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: BARCLAYS BANK <barclays_bank_uk@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: barclays_bank_uk72@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:00:14 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Barclays Bank London
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From Barclays Bank
London
Barclays Bank
PLC is registered in England.
Registered No: 1026167. Registered
Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.
Barclays Bank PLC is authorized and regulated by the Financial
Services
Authority.
______________________________
______________________________ ______________
Ref: 9905240 From: Barclays
Bank London
Foreign Head of Operations
Department
Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place,
London E14 5HP.United
Kingdom.
Fax: +44 707 500 4698
Tel: +44 703 191 4462
CONTRACT #:
MAV/FGN/MIN/009.
Registered No: 1026167.
Attention
Beneficiary
PAYMENT
NOTIFICATION
Following the signal we received from our local banks &
Affiliated bank in Africa/London Concerning your payment from reserve account
they have with us, be That your payment will now be effected from our bank
(BARCLAYS BANK PLC) London.
During the auditing and verifying of your
files it was discovered from the Records of outstanding transfer's due for
payment. Many officials and some Of your agents from the source origin of your
fund have delayed your payment for One reason and the other following the
outcome of board of director's Meeting with other
commercial
banks here including international
credit settlement commission in London.
We
hereby bring to your notice that the Sum of One Million Two Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars ($1.2 Million USD) Will be
released to you Through western union money transfer.
You are advise to contact our local western union office on How you
will start receving your fund by western union.
The Name Of The Person to Contact Is Mr Mark Scott. westernunionffc201@gmail.com
Do contact the western union office and get back to
us
Regard
Dr Jack
Donald.
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Anti-fraud resources:
