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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. )
- "registration 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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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 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.
- 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.
- westernunion18@kimo.com (Kimo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Award Wining General Overseer <webzzz120@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernunion18@kimo.com
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:33:05 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Contact Western Union For Your $850.000
Welcome to Western Union our direct
e-mail
westernunion18@kimo.com Send Money Worldwide Dear Western Union Award Winner,
You have today patronized/awarded with the sum of USD$850.000 .00 United State Dollars by African Western Union Management, as one of our luck/valued customers who uses Western Union throughout your past transaction deals in
Africa.
This award has been selected through our local banks, and western union agencies before indicated and approved. You're now required to pay only sum of US$105.00 for Award Winning Registration Fee with your following details listed below so that your USD$850.000 will be sending to you every day in amount of USD$7000 each day.
1. Name________
2. Address________
3. Phone Number____
Country ____
You should transfer the US$105.00 For Award Winner Registration Fee by Western Union to below name:
Receiver UDE EDWINLocation:: Cotonou Benin Repulic
Question Good
Answer Luck
Amount $105
As soon as the above fee and your address are received, your USD$850.000 will be forwarding to you by $7000 daily Email:
(westernunion18@kimo.com) as soon as you send the Award Winner Registration Fee.PLS call Mr Edwin Ude After sending the fees on his direct cell phone +229-998-98336
Thank you for using western union money transfer in all your transfer to business to African Countries and congratulation.
Mr. Robert Anderson
Award Wining General Overseer
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Anti-fraud resources:
