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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. )
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "cotonou" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Nicholas Woznicki <nickwozn@verizon.net>
Reply-To: bankoceanic@hosanna.net
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 02:22:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: good day
FROM OFFICE OF THE
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER. AKPAPA
COTONOU-BENIN
REPUBLIC
Â
Good
day.Â
We received an email from one Mrs.Rachell Bordoy who
presented a resident address, saying that you gave her the power of attorney to
make your claims of $850,000.00..and we have stop order instruction on the fund
pending when your views and comments are received with regards to this
matter.
Â
Get back to us immediately you received this email
message sent to you before we instruct her to pay for the required charges of
$45 and have the $850,000.00.released to her immediately. Below are the
information’s she presented to us.
Â
Name: Mrs. Rachell
Bordoy
Address: 18 Duvall Lane, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877 USA
Â
Your
urgent response will be highly appreciated. If you are not aware of this get
back to us immediately
Â
Your urgent respond is highly
needed.Â
  Â
Yours Faithfully
Mr.Nicholas Woznicki,
Western Union Department
Oceanic Bank Benin
.Â
Â
Â
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Anti-fraud resources:
