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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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.
- 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.
- info_westuniomontrans@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: zulfakar@hkalla.co.id
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 19:15:40 +0800 (CIT)
Subject: Payment Date: 09/04/2014
Attn:
Your first payment of $5,000 of today has been sent to you, kindly contact payment of office through the below contacts via e-mail (info_westuniomontrans@yahoo.com) +229-6578-2729, they will give you direction on how you will be receiving your funds daily. The maximum daily transfer is $5,000 USD till your total sum of $1.2 Million USD is transferred to you.
Here is the information of the money we sent today to you but it will remain on hold until you send us the activation charges of $155 before we can releases it to you so you can track your payment through our web site for confirmation. https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
SENDER'S NAME: MICHAEL CHOPPA.
MTCN: 5677196723
QUESTION====IN GOD?
TEST ANSWER=== WE TRUST.
AMOUNT====$5000 USD
Therefore you are Expected to reconfirm your FULL receiving information as demanded. Name, Address and mobile number.
Thank you.
Rev. Brown Tomas.
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Anti-fraud resources:
