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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. )
- 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.
- uuwestern@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: terry smith <dr.godwinu@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: transferwestern@yahoo.cn
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:19:11 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: ATTN, BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND
ATTN, BENEFICIARY OF THIS FUND
Â
DATE: 16/11/2011
My name is Mrs. Linda James, the new elected manager of International monetary funds (IMF) office Benin republic. I am writing this mail with deep sorrow as saw your name on the file last 3weeks ago as the one of the most beneficiary which did not receive their fund compensation valued US$2.5millon which suppose to been delivery to you, I wanted to deliver the cash to your address but I later found out that is against the law of this country to deliver such amount through delivery company, 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 all you have to do right now is to contact the director Western Union Money Transfer to enable them start transferring your funds to you.
They will be sending you $5.000.00 daily until your total amount of funds is been transferred to you.
HERE IS THERE CONTACT ADDRESS.
Western Union Money Transfer.
Director Name: Mr. Peter Campbell
E-mail : Â uuwestern@yahoo.com )
Tel  0 229-99527733
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------------
Make sure you send this needed information’s and comply with them to receive your funds.
Finally make sure you notify us back once they have transferred your funds to you.
Regards,
Mrs. Linda James the New Manager of (IMF)
E-mail Address:(uuwestern@yahoo.com)
Telephone Number 0229-99527733
>From International monetary funds
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Anti-fraud resources:
