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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:
- 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 gram" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Van Hilton" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2016 22:06:46 +0700
Subject: Dear Sir, Your Payment is Approved For Send To You.
To: Beneficiary Concern.
I AM MR.VAN HILTON DIRECTOR WORLD FINANCIAL RECOVERY PAYMENT BUREAU OFFICE. I decided to contact you because of the prevailing financial report reaching my office and the intense nature of our policies. This body was set up to compensate all the individual that fall into Scam Victim and lost their hard earning money one way or the other in fake internet lottery and business.
Many of the individuals has lost hope of life after losing their life savings. We have come to conclusion after the executive board meeting with EU,AU,ARAB LEAGUE, to compensation 40% of what the Scam Syndicates has taken from you to further your life back.
This payment will be made in 4 ways of options via paying bank:
1) Payment to you through Western Union Money Transfer
2) Payment through Money Gram
3) Payment through Bank swift wire transfer
4) Atm Visa/Master card with daily limit withdraw
Your Payment selection code is WFPB/FL NO/777/15 and amount for compensation on your favor sum of USD 580,000.00 only.
We discovered that this fund has not been send to you and a mandate has been given to this body to contact you so that the fund would be send to you before the claim cancelation date.
Thank you for your Clear understanding
Best Regards,
Mr.Van Hilton
DIRECTOR: WORLD FINANCIAL RECOVERY PAYMENT BUREAU
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Anti-fraud resources:
