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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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 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.
- westernunions@vip.onet.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunions@vip.onet.pl>
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:58:34 -0600
Subject: First Payment has being sent to you now;.....
In line with United Nation/IMF Order. This is to inform you that we have started sending your approved UN Compensation Payment of $1.5Million USD today in line with IMF debts settlements programs, and you can only be receiving THREE times daily from us through your payment file. The only fee required from you is just $95 Western Union File Activation fee. I have made today's payment for you below is the Mtcn, you can also track it on-line
Website;https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=NG
Sender's name:Clarence Corass
Amount Sent $5,000
Mtcn#. 0716797753
Text Question: When
Text Answer: Now
Re-confirm your information's and the $95 to us now, to enable us activate the MTCN in your name for your easy withdrawal:
you name___
you country__
you address___
you Occupation____
you Age/sex__
Your occupation
Direct phone number__
Send the required $95 Activation fee to this bellow Agent information:
Receiver: JAMES OGANIRU
Location: LAGOS-NIGERIA
Text Question: RECEIVE
Text Answer: NOW NOW
Senders name:.................
Senders Address:...............
MTCN............
Make the payment now and email me the information to this email now:( westernunions@vip.onet.pl ) for an immediate confirmation of your first payment.
CONTACT PHONE +234 81 66 85 97 68
Best Regards
Mr John Wayne
(Western Union African regional director)
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Anti-fraud resources:
