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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. )
- 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: Mr Williams Anderson <swincieworld@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wum.transfer@om-team.fr
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 15:06:31 -0700
Subject: Attn: Dear Client
MESSAGE FROM AFRICAN UNION
Plot 991/992 Zachariah Malabar Street
Cad astral zone A.O central business district.
Attn: Dear Client
We receive a confirmation of your payment valued the Sum of
$3.9M USD remitted from Bank of America Escrow Account to Federal
Reserve Bank Benin for onward Fund Transfer to your designated Bank
Account. My acquaintance with you as your superintendent officer was
based on strict directives from the paying Bank where your fund was en
routed through the Bank of America. Recent findings by our in-house
security department revealed gross misdemeanors of office by previous
administrative officials who intentionally delayed the expected
process of
foreign Diplomatic shipment for selfish and dubious interest resulting
to this time lapse, which we sincerely tender our profound apologies
with view to addressing a timely justification of office being our
propagator scheme with view to revamping the system and process timely
release of funds using the open flexible available payments options
that would be communicated to you in follow ups.
To forestall the security and unnecessary delay. We have concluded the
arrangement of releasing your total sum of 3.9M USD via Western Union
after the meeting held on 21st Sept between United Nation U.N and
Africa Union (A.U). We tried as much as possible to uphold the already
laid down Principle of law regarding the necessary legitimate
procedures in the payment of your total reimbursement but it required
your complete
data before the processing of the payment such as.
Your full Name----------------Â-
Your house address-------------Â--
Your outgoing number--------------
Your Occupation----------Â----
Your Age/Sex-------------
Please note: The needed transfer charge has been already paid by A.U
but the only fee which might be required by western union must be to
obtain the necessary document which will be issued and signed
originally in your name to enable you get your total payments without
any interception from any office. Contact Person: Mr. John David,
Email: (wum.transfer@om-team.fr), Tel: (229-98-79-74-50)
Thanks
Mr. Williams Anderson
A.U Agent
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Anti-fraud resources:
