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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. )
- "hundred thousand united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "western.union217@yahoo.in" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "From Paul Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail0263@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 01:07:09 +0530
Subject: Your urgent attention is needed
I am Paul Williams from UK LOndon. I am Pleased to inform you that, you have been selected for Monetary Compensation of Two Million,Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($2.500.000.00Usd) from The EUROPEAN UNION COMPENSATION SCHEME (EU).
You are to be receiveing the sum of Five Thousand United Dtate Dollars ($5000) daily through Western Union Money Transfer.
So, you are advised to contact Mr.Frank Mark of Western Union office in India with your direct telephone number,full names and complete address to enable them start sending your daily payment to you immediately.
Contact them now on this information below:
Western Union Money
Transfer Head Office India
Manager Mr.Frank Mark.
E-mail : western.union217@yahoo.in
Phone Number : +918373935256
Thanks,
Paul Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
