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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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- 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.
- o.w_u.p@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Hon. Richard Chukwu." <westernunionmntrnsfr89@gmail.com>
Reply-To: o.w_u.p@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 17:43:35 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDS DEPARTMENTS
P {
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UL {
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OL {
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Dear
Beneficiary,
This is to
inform you that your funds of $2.8.000.00 US Dollars which was on hold by the
International Monetary Funds for the past few months ago and we did not heard
from you again, so after the board executives meeting yesterday it was concluded
that your fund should be release to you. So it has been forwarded to the Western
Union for the immediate transfer to you. So the only fee you have to pay to them
is $109 USD for them to purchase your payment files and start transfering your
funds to you.
They will be sending you $5.000.00 daily untill your total
amount of funds is been transferred to you.
HERE IS THERE CONTACT
ADDRESS.
Western Union Money Transfer.
Mrs. Kelechi
Morgan
E-mail:(o.w_u.p@hotmail.com )
Tel: +229 99-0381-91
THIS IS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED
FROM YOU.
1.Your full name------------
2.Your
country---------------
3.Your status------------------
4.Your
age----------------------
5.Your phone
number------------
Find below information where you send the require $109. for the
immediate release of your payment
Receiver------------ Sunday Chidezie
Location
City---------Cotonou-Benin
Country-----------------Benin Rep
Text
Question--------How
Long?
Answer-----------------Today
Amount--------------$109.Only
Be advise that the $109 is a compulsory as they told me that is only money
you will pay until you receive your payment completely
Make sure you send this needed informations and comply with them to
receive your funds.
Finally make sure you notify us back once they have
transfer your funds to you.
Best regards
Hon. Richard
Chukwu.
Managing Director
(I.M.F)
Benin
Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
