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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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 advice 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Michael Bildstein <mrbildstein@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 03:25:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR PAYMENT
Dear Friend,Greetings!
we have concoulded yesterday with the governor of eco bank here in benin republic that you should start receiving your paymenyt of $1.5M. USD through westerrn union money transfer from tomorrow,
But you will be receiving $5000 usd only per a day , so you are advice to contact the western union operator Rev.Mike Ike, Right now contact him and re-confirm your information to him right away so that he will send you your money controll number of your first payment of $5000 for you to pick it up in any western union arround you .
Here is there info Rev.Mike Ike
His email...(oc.west.union.benin2@w.cn)
His phone..+229 9982 3059
And also here is the informations you need to send to him ,
Your receiver's name.....
your country code....
your telephone number.....
All this informations is to avoid sending your money to wrong person,
yours in service.
Mr.Robin David
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Anti-fraud resources:
