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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. )
- "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.
- westernunionmoneytransfer3@kimo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "International Monetary Funds" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionmoneytransfer2@kimo.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:39:27 +0200
Subject: Dear Beneficiary $3.4 Million USA Dollars!!!
Dear Beneficiary $3.4 Million USA Dollars,
This is to inform you that your funds of $3.4 Million USA Dollars which was on hold by the International Monetary Funds for the past few months ago and we did not heard from you again, 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 the only fee you have to pay to them is $85 USD for them to purchase your payment files and 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.
Mr. Peter Moore
E-mail:( westernunionmoneytransfer3@kimo.com )
Tel: +229 982 577 95
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------------
Find below information where you send the require $85. for the immediate release of your payment
Receiver------------ ANTHONY TAGBO EKWEALOR
Location City---------Cotonou
Country-----------------Benin
Text Question--------How Long
Answer-----------------Today
Amount--------------$85.Only
Be advise that the $85 is a compulsory as they told me that is only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely
Make sure you send this needed informations and comply with them to receive your funds.
Finally make sure you notify us back once they have transfer your funds to you.
Yours faithfully.
Jerry Thompson
International Monetary Funds (IMF)
Representative in Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
