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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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- westernwesternunion292@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Eng Bright Sam" <westernwesternunion292@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2022 08:17:36 +0100
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION FOR SCAM VICTIMS
Attn E-mail Address Owner,
Email:
westernwesternunion292@gmail.com
Sequel to the meeting held with Federal Bureau of Investigation, The
International Monetary
Fund (IMF) is compensating all the scam victims and some email users
which your name and
email address was found on the list.
However, we have concluded to effect your own payment through Western
Union® Money
Transfer, $5000 daily until the total sum of your compensation fund is
transferred to you.
BELOW IS THE MTCN AND TRACKING WEBSITE TO ENABLE YOU TRACK YOUR FIRST
PROGRAMMED APPROVED PAYMENT,
https://www.westernunion.com/global-service/track-transfer
MTCN#::7225830047
Amount Programmed: $5000
You are advised to get back to the contact person trough the email
below for more direction
on how to be receiving your payment
Contact person: Dr.Eng Bright Sam
Email:
westernwesternunion292@gmail.com
Thanks
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Anti-fraud resources:
