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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "million 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)
- "you are advise to" (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.
- robbertfredrick28@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Robbert Fredrick <chiugochinedu@gmail.com>
Reply-To: robbertfredrick28@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2023 01:07:17 -0700
Subject: hello
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY FROM WESTERN UNION REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT!
Your first payment of $3,500 out of your compensation funds worth $2.9
Million dollars (Two Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars) from World
Compensation Committee (WCC) has been sent today via Western Union
remittance department and is available to pick up by you .The below is
the required Sender's information to pick up your money at any Western
Union local store or bank around you okay.
Reference number : 103-872-8758
Sender name......... Mrs Lucy Harry
Country....... USA
City...... Washington DC
Text Question..... What colour
Text answer....... Red white.
Kindly visit any Western Union store or bank to claim your money because
we have already sent it to your name.
You are advise to Contact Western Union head office once you pick up
your first $3,500 to enable them send your second payment immediately
because they will keep sending your money till your total funds worth
$2.9 Million dollars deposited in your name is completely received by you.
For more information or enquiries please contact the Director Mr
Robbert Fredrick on the information below.
Email address: (robbertfredrick28@gmail.com)
(For Google hangout message only)
Note : We'll keep sending your payment until your total fund of ($2.9
Million dollars) is Completely received by you.
Best regard
Mr Robbert Fredrick
Western Union Gen. Director.
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Anti-fraud resources:
