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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.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "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 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.
- westernunionoffice66@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: DR EDWARD VINCENT <westernunionoffice66@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 18:37:31 +0100
Subject: ****SPAM**** YOUR MTCN..... 7598518712 (Available for pick up by receiver)
Attn:,
This is the last email to you regarding this fund release and after
today it will be cancel and We need a serious explanation from you
because we have sent you so many email regarding your funds from our
custody after a meeting with the representative of fbi and united
nations organization and we told you that you are instructed by them
to send $50 to enable us release your first payment of $5000 to enable
you pay all the charges that required from the authority of western
union.
I reall understand your past experience and i promise you that you
will get your $5000 as soon as you send the $50 usd and believe me i
will not ever disappoint you in this issue because the PRESIDENT of
this country has all ready approved your total fund.So you don't have
to worry about your past experience because you will be revival
again.
Here is the first payment information below but it is on hold by the
authority of western union, just track it with our web site it is
available for pick up by
receiver.https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global.
1.SENDER NAME:... JAROSLAV KUNDLA
2..TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
3.TEST ANSWER:......WHITE.
4.AMOUNT ...........$5,000 USD
5.MTCN..... 7598518712 (Available for pick up by receiver)
Below is our account officer name information which you will use to
send whatever you have through western union to enable us release your
first payment of $5000 USD.
1.RECEIVER NAME:......JAMES UBA
2.COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC .
3.CITY :............... COTONOU .
4...TEST QUESTION:....WHAT COLOR?
5.TEST ANSWER:......WHITE.
We wait for your urgent response with the payment information and
immediately we confirm the transfer fees your first payment of $5000
will be release to you immediately today.
BEST REGARDS
DR EDWARD VINCENT
GENERAL OPERATION MANAGER.
ECO BANK
WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
EMAIL: westernunionoffice66@gmail.com
EMAIL: westernunionoffice66@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
