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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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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: Oceanic Bank Plc <oceanicbanktransferplc@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2010 03:06:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: RE:IMMEDIATE ATM VISA CARD PAYMENT NOTICATION
FROM ONCEANI BANK
PLC BENIN REPUBLIC
CONTACT: MR.LUNDI
JOHNSON.
ADDRESS; AVENUE STERMETZ RUE
1255
RE:IMMEDIATE
ATM VISA CARD PAYMENT
NOTICATION
Attenetion:
Beneficiray,
Good day to you my dear and may the God almight father
bless you for all your effort and prayer concerning me. I just returned from
hospital yesterday.through i was not too well but i have to request for a
descharge as i know that God almight father will heal the rest but my aim is to
be able to comunicate with you.
I am pleading to you
in the name of God because it has been a while now that we did not comunicate
any more. i hope things is moving normal,however i decide to write you and
verify if you have raise the needed fee which i told you to pay before Left to
hospital so that we can complete the assignment we have at hand. now let me
know. how you raise the money. if yes please get back to me now with western
union payment informations so that my effort will been completed.
I tred
to call you during my stay in hospital but i can see that your phone is having a
problem.please tell me.are you still willing to receive your ATM CARD. if you
still willing let me know so that i will know that my dream is still
alive.
I believe. you
know the needed amount is $189.00 but i advise you to send $89.00 now then
return the balance of $100.00 after you receive the ATM CARD. but please don't
fail by sending the $89.00 immedaitely you receive this mail so that i will
register the ATM CARD for immedaite delivery and also give D.H.L tracking number
to enable monitor the ATM CARD and know the time it will arrive in your home
address for you to receive it.
I swear to God
almight father that $89.00 is only money you have to send untill you receive the
ATM CARD before you can pay the balance of $100.00 but pleasedon't delay by
sending the money today or tomorrow because the ATM CARD will leave this country
by monday to your country.Here is the informations to send the money through
western union or money gram below:
1. RECEIVER NAME=======MR.OKAFOR
CHIDI
2.COUNTRY=======BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY==============COTONOU
3. QUESTION===========HOW
LONG
4. ANSWER============TWO DAYS
5.
AMOUNT============US$89.00
As soon as you make
the payment please send an email with western union payment informations so that
we can pick up the money immediately and register the ATM CARD for immediate
deliver to your country.
Be rest assured that
$89.00 is for registation fee and is only money that you have to pay as for now
until you receive the ATM CARD then you can return the balance of $100.00
okey.now you can go ahead and make the payment immediately through western union
or money gram.
I am looking forward to hear from you once again with
westen union payment informations if you are real person but if not you please
don't contact back. below the email address.
May the God almight father bless you.
Please be a
honest person to me because i swear to God that i will not lie to you until you
receive your ATM CARD please.
DIRECTOR
GENERAL MR.LUNDI JOHNSON
SEND THE MONEY
TODAY
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