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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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cotonou" (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 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.
- transfer_fund@mail.ru (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR JAMES LORD <JAMES.@ninus.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR JAMES LORD <transfer_fund@mail.ru>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 01:46:19 +0900 (JST)
Subject: SEND ONLY $49 AND PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT NOW?
Welcome to Western UnionPhone:+22999923379
Send Money Worldwide
Send Money
Welcome to Western Union
Remittance Office
Email transfer_fund@mail.ru
Call+22999923379
Address: 126 Addington Road
Croydon Cr2 BP 325- Cotonou-
Benin
SEND ONLY $49 AND PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT NOW?
Dear Valued Customer,
It is my pleasure to inform you about the latest development concerning your unclaimed fund on behalf of the management western union transfer The funds which was suppose to be released to you by the former remittance department manager who was terminated from office due to the bad reputation he had with most of our foreign customers.
Hence this is the great opportunity for you to receive your fund and you have to comply accordingly to enable us obtain the Transfer Permit Clearance and start transferring your payment today and note you will be receiving US$5,000.00 on a daily basis until your total sum of US$5.600,000.00 is completed transferred in your favor.
For your information do not expect the releasing of your payment without sending the money required and remember that you are given only 24 hours to comply or your transfer will be cancel immediately since you are told to send $49 in order to help you. below is our account officer name which you will use to send the $49 to enable us release your first payment immediately in other words this management is now requesting that you will pay the sum of US$49 only to start receiving your payment.
Send the fee through Western Union Agent with the information below:
Receiver Name: ===== PETER EKESON
Country: ====== BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:::::::::::::::::::::::::; COTONOU
Text Question: ==== ONLY?
Answer: ======= GOD.
Amount: ======= US49
MTCN:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note you are required to pay US$49 only to enable us secure your Transfer Permit Clearance and we will start your payment immediately.
This offer valid for Today***24 Hours*** from today 22TH JAN therefore treat as urgent as possible to wire the fee today so that you will start receiving your fund.
We are wishing you the very best of luck.
Yours sincerely
MR JAMES LORD
Call us with:+22999923379
Western Union® founded 1851 has been operating for over 151 years, Today with over 589,000 Agent locations worldwide in over 200 countries and territories, millions of people trust Western Union to send and receive money worldwide.
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