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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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "% of every payment" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "money order " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "and cash it" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "KIM WILLIAMS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kimwilliam098@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:16:12 -0800
Subject: EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Enex Global Financial Services provides financial services, Investments Monitoring Services and assets management services in different sector of the economy.
About 90% of our clients prefer to make payment using Financial Instrument such as Certified Check and Money order you are to receive them and process on our behalf.
It takes us longer time to handle such payments and the percentage charged as tax on International Money Transfer from Company (legal entities) is high compare to Individual (33% for cooperate bodies and less than 7% for money transfer from individual.
It is because of the above reason that one of the most respected Tax consultant in UK advised the company to employ someone for the opening position in order to reduce the large percentage been paid as tax.
So because of the increasing number of clients, we have decided to open this new contract -to-hire job position for solving this problem. You don’t need to go and meet our clients/debtors in their offices or location. Our clients are willing to make the payment and mail to your location. These payments will come as check in your name and you are to RECEIVE it and CASH it on our behalf. Then FORWARD the fund through Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram to our company or any designated office provided to you.
COMPENSATION/BENEFITS:
You will be paid 10% of every payment you receive and process on our behalf. You'll have a lot of free time doing other jobs because this job is part-time.
Your Income or pay would be a minimum of 3,500 in less than 10days depending on how competent,efficient,diligent and fast you are in discharging your responsibility.
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
COUNTRY:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
HOME PHONE NUMBER:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
PAST OR PRESENT OCCUPATION:
AGE:
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Anti-fraud resources:
