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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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- wu.insp_obumnku@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: AU/EU financial co-ordinator <officeopens2@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: AU/EU financial co-ordinator <wu.insp_obumnku@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:53:02 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Fund for you.
  Attn: My Dear
Following the instruction of the of the AU/EU (African union/European union) we are contacting you of the grant by the above organization.
We have arranged your payment of ($920,000.00.usd) Nine hundred and twenty thousand united state dollars to be sent through western union money transfer payment: Your payment will be sent to you by western union as programmed per day.
The director administrator trust funds has already signed your payment, now free to comply with Approval Processing Department Office on this email as:(wu.insp_obumnku@yahoo.com). Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release your payment by western union.
Mr Obum Nku Â
Telephone:(+22961656411)
E-mail:(wu.insp_obumnku@yahoo.com)
The financial western union payment center has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note that the only fee you need to pay is administration fee before you will start receiving your fund through western union daily. Below are the information required for western union transfer:
Receiver Name---------------
Country---------------------
City------------------------
Tel-------------------------
Test Question---------------
Text Answer----------------------
Be advised to forward your information to Mr. Obum Nku for further processing of your payment.
Best Regards,
John Greg
AU/EU financial co-ordinator
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Anti-fraud resources:
