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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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)
- "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.
- graigmiller@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "US. Army" <jog@kalstaronline.com>
Reply-To: graigmiller@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:24:51 -0400
Subject: 3/21/2016
I am Sergeant Graigmiller of the US. Army based in Afghanistan for peace keeping and maintainance. My COM CODE is US.stg763us603Afgh.
I do not know you may think of this but I want you to keep safe for me. I have found your contact detail in a address journal.
I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of $300,000.00 USD. This is not stolen money and there are no dangers involved.
Due to the high internet activities going on online this recent time I have been able to contact you for a better talk of partnership.
All I need is your assistance to make it possible.
Below is the first installment ready for pick up:
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N) 9422289046
Senders First Name: PETER
Senders Last Name: IWUNOR
Question: Time ?
Answer: 0 hours
Amount Sent: $5000
To approve of your first transfer,your first installment payment of $5,000.00 (Five Thousand United State Dollars) for the $300,000.00 USD
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=CN
to enable you start pick up the money at any nearest western union center of your choice in your country according to the receipt, you are to
remit the processing of $150 only to get this money across to you. Also, you need to send your current address and contact number. Can we have a deal ?
graigmiller@yahoo.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:
