|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "interl.departm2@msn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK \(Foreign Operation Dept\)" <info.departmoffice@gmail.com>
Reply-To: interl.departm2@msn.com
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:01:26 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Transfer by ATM card/ @ your Door Step In the Nex 2hours.
Dear Sir,
We are aware that you have been contacted for your ATM card. When this functionality is made available to you, it will take 24hours in processing cycle to be post to your address but the delivering company and its Issuing banks did not initiate their service and now they are currently been included in the subject of the investigation being conducted by the acquiring and by Visa International and MasterCard.
This is an additional way to confirm your fund transfer by ATM card account. Your ATM card must be send to you in three days to your postal address. Considering this development, the only cash advance you will pay is $39. For the account activation no other money will be charge you for delivering or custom papers or for any document again as soon as we receive the activation fee we will then send you the ATM card immediately and forward the pin number and activation as well as the name of the Bank the Card is drawn on. The maximum daily allowance of this ATM card is $5.000 and the total amount load in your ATM card is $1.2 Million .please note that you need to acts on your party by obtain a payment guarantee order with $39 (US$) here in benin republic send the money via western union only with the name of our accountant below:
Senders Name:----
Recivers name:----Ikechi N. Enwereuzor
Country:--- Benin Republic
City:-- Cotonou
Question:----Who?
Answer:---Ikechi
MTCN:--------
Amount:--$39
Forward us the payment details, MTCN....and we will perform our obligation of getting the fund to your location upon receiving your order and the fee . Send the money via western union money transfer or by money gram and forward the payment informations to us for easier pick up. We strongly advise against doing any thing with any body or organisation claming to hold your ATM CARD this is a friendly but stern warning . You have to call the delivery agent to confirm that your package is there. AGENT NAME: Paul George. Tele: +1 206-426-6305. Fax: +1 206-426-6017 by today because he has made today as the last day, and he also promise that he will deliver your Atm card to you by today without any further delay again.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Thank you and kind regards
Best regards,
Mr. williams peter.
Tele: (+229) 93126095
Reply to this email : interl.departm2@msn.com
ATM Payment Service Provider.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
