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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.
- 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.
- gregphilip.remittance1@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER <admin@forox.net>
Reply-To: gregphilip.remittance1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 05:53:43 -0800
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
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WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Financial Services company
PAY-Out Center.
**************
The coca-cola company has authorized us to remit to you the total sum of
50,000.00 (FIFTY thousand USD) This amount is to be paid to you
accordingly; you were selected in the Last E-mail ballot promotion held
in Canada by Coca-Cola. This promotion is designed to give back to our
costumer for their sincere patronage on our product. This promo is held
once every year to change the living status by awarding financial
support.
Be strongly informed that because of our Western Union transfer policy,
your funds will be paid to you via our Western Union Daily Transfer
limit. This means that you will continuously receive a daily amount from
us, and this amount can be collected from any of our Western Union
outlets in your current location.
To begin receiving your daily payment as stated above, we need you to
Contact our financial secretary Mr. Greg Philip for payment inquiry.
Provide him your details Your Full Name, Address and phone.
Email- (Gregphilip.remittance1@gmail.com)
On behalf of the Coca-Cola Company we congratulate you.
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Anti-fraud resources:
