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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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 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.
- koffimensah1956@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Compensation Desk <officelink-----400@att.net>
Reply-To: koffimensah1956@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 01:21:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Western Union Sent{R.A.S.P}!!!
Attn:
I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of $100,000USD via western union as there is a new M.O.U with ECOWAS AND WESTERN UNION ON THE COMPENSATION OF SCAMMED VICTIMS.
We are sending you the MTCN and sender's name so that you pick up this USD$5000.00 to enable us send another USD5000.00 by tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only USD$5000.00 per day.THIS WILL GO ON FOR 20DAYS APPROX.
BUT ACCORDING TO YOUR FILES HERE YOU MUST FIRST SEND US A COPY OF THE BANK OF GHANA APPROVAL WHICH WAS GIVEN TO YOU .AS WE NEED TO VERIFY YOUR AUTHENTICITY.IN ORDER WORDS YOUR PICK UP HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD PENDING WHEN WE GET THE BANK OF GHANA APPROVAL FROM YOU.SO YOU CAN NOT COLLECT THE FUNDS TAKE NOTE, YOU CAN ONLY CHECK IT ONLINE , PENDING WHEN WE RELEASE IT OFFICIALLY AFTER WE HAVE CONFIRMED A SCANNED COPY OF THE BANK OF GHANA APPROVAL MADE IN YOUR NAME IS THAT CLEAR!!.THIS IS JUST A VERIFICATION PROCESS WHICH HAS TO BE DONE.
You are therefore required to track your payment online before you go for final pickup, kindly Check on http://www.westernunion.com/
CLICK TRACKING AND FILL IN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION'S BELOW:SENT BY THE LOCAL WESTERN UNION MANAGER: ROBERT NORRIS.
MTCN : 8140323190
Sender's First Name: ROBERT
Sender's Last Name: NORRIS
YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE AVAILABILITY OF PICK UP WE WILL SEND YOU TEST QUESTION AND ANSWER WHEN WE HEAR FROM YOU.
You can call/EMAIL me now for further instructions on how to send the THE BANK OF GHANA APPROVAL TO MY OFFICE FOR VERIFICATION.
Best Regards
Mr.Kofi Mensah{Compensation Dept}.
Ecowas House Osu, Accra, Ghana.
E-mail{koffimensah1956@gmail.com}
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Anti-fraud resources:
