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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. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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.
- westernunionpay@executivemail.co.za (Executivemail, South Africa; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Paul Thompson" <office@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunionpay@executivemail.co.za
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:19:49 -0700
Subject: Information and urgent
Dear beneficiary,
This is to inform you that your E-mail address has been selected among the people that will received the COVID-19 relief fund which was approved by the world Bank today.
A total sum of $500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) has been awarded to you and it will be transfer to you by Western Union.
This fund has been transfer to the custody of Western Union and it has been confirmed by them. So kindly contact the Western Union Director with the information below.
Contact Person: Mr. Jimmy Clapps
Phone: +1 332 228 6001
Email: westernunionpay@executivemail.co.za
Contact him with the below details:
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Your Phone Number:
While contacting him, please kindly include this code in your email so he will recognize you and attend to you without no delay (WU090795). You have 72 hours to contact Mr. Jimmy Clapps. After 72 hours, your awarded fund maybe cancelled.
Thanks
Mr. Paul Thompson
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