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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 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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- 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 David Frink <mribrahimlamordeexecutivechair@gmail.com>
Reply-To: file1955@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2022 01:45:00 -0800
Subject: MTCN is: 9917462520
Attention Your US$2,500 Pick-Up MTCN is:9917462520 we stopped sending
your money this week because of spam emails you were receiving from
people that claim to be Western Union. We were confused about this so
we have tried and have arrested some of them. Now the situation has
calmed down and we have started sending money to the whole people
concerned. The new arrangement is that what you will receive everyday
is $5000USD daily till the total sum of $3.4 million USD is completed
and what you will pay $100 usd only, But this is the beginning so
you can go ahead and pay the $100 usd so that you can receive your
first payment today because your first payment has already been sent,
this is the mtcn#;9917462520
track it, but you cannot pick it till you send the needed $100 as I told you.
Below is your first payment for $5000 usd sent. Click on the link
below to track your $5000 payment status now. It is a compulsory step
to take if you really want to gain access to your payment. You can
also copy and paste the link on your web browser:
Track View Website link:
https://www.westernunion.com/ca/en/web/track-transfer/results
Money Transfer Control Number REFERENCE #
MTCN...9917462520
Sender first name:::MR David
Sender last name::: Frink
Western Union Director; Mr David Frink
Western Union Department
Your urgent response is highly needed in sending the $100 usd to
enable us to proceed for reconfirm your payment file from the World
Bank central
System. Send the $100 usd directly with the below method.
Steam Wallet Card
Apple Gift Card
Ebay Gift Card
Or you sent it through Ria or western union money gram
Receive name === Kebirungi Phionah
Country Republic of Uganda
City Kampala
Amount $100
Note that you need to reconfirm these details from you in case there
is any wrong with the one we sent then we correct it.
Full Name---------------
Country---------------------
Address------------------------
Tel-------------------------
Yours in service,
Mr David Frink
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Anti-fraud resources:
