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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:
- "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 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: Annam Ishola <infoatmutbsc@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:13:17 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT OF $850,000.00 WILL BE MADE VIA WESTERN UNION ON DAILY BASES
DIRECTOR ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
UNION TRUST BANK AND SECURITY
BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
OUR REF: U.T.B.S.C./MF/B01/Vol 01
EMAIL: infutbscbank@prokonto.pl
Phone: +229 9660 8331
DATE: 14/12/2010
YOUR PAYMENT OF $850,000.00 WILL BE MADE VIA WESTERN UNION ON DAILY BASES
WE WISH TO RELEASE YOUR TOTAL FUND TO YOU VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY
TRANSFER. WE WILL BE RELEASING TO YOU $5,000.00 EVERY DAY.BUT WE
WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR CONSENT ON THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT SO THAT WE CAN
SEND YOU THE FIRST $5,000.00 FROM YOUR FUND BY TODAY.UPON HEARING
YOUR SWIFT RESPONDS.WE SHALL SEND YOU THE MTCN FOR THE FIRST
$5,000.EMAIL US AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION ON THIS NEW
PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.
CONTACT IMMEDIATELY THROUGH THIS EMAIL: infutbscbank@prokonto.pl
SO THAT YOU WILL START RECEIVING YOUR PAYMENT EVERYDAY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR. ANNAM ISHOLA
UTBSCB ONLINE ACC...DEPT
UNION TRUST BANK AND SECURITY
N.B: If you have received this mail and not requested for it please
discard this mail.
This mail was sent on behalf of UTBSC BENIN as it is
guaranteed on our banking code of conduct
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Anti-fraud resources:
