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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:
- "clearance fee" (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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Transfer." <info@transfer.com>
Reply-To: costomercare@westernunion.th.tc
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:41:22 +1300
Subject: Paying Centre
Good Day,
We have been informed early this morning your payment is already approved
through western union. And as we are mandated to transfer you the total sum
of $1. 8 Million US through Western Union by the {UN} your inheritance fund.
Send them email now to collect Sender Names: Therefore i want you to email
Mr. Douglas Ben the western union supervisor and ask him to give you the MTCN
number and sender name to pick up the first $4500 dollars today and also ask
him to direct you where you should send them IMF Clearance fee of $55 dollars
as per instruction from the International Monetary of Fund
Benin Republic.
Here is what he may require from you.
Your. Receiver---------
Your. Country------
Your. City-----------
Your. Tel--------
Your. Age ---------------
Be rest assured that the required IMF Clearance fee of $55 dollars must be
paid as per instruction from the International Monetary of Fund Benin Republic
to enable them stamp your MTCN receipt paper for immediate pick up in your name.
Below is their Contact information.
Email: costomercare@westernunion.th.tc
Contact person Mr. Douglas Ben
Regards
Mrs Ana Umes
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Anti-fraud resources:
