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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. )
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- ben_office@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. FRANK BEN" <williams.edward44@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: western122011@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:50:53 +0200
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION TODAY FOR YOUR PAYMENT.
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Contact Person: Mr Frank Ben
Tele phone Number: +229-988-309-40
DATE 09/06/2010.
ATTENTION DEAR.
How are you, Hope all is fine. We the western union office are here to
inform you about the transfer of your total fund which you have been
suffering for years and up till date you have note received it from the
Money Gram Offices and other fake offices Claiming to be the real one.
So be informed that your fund is now ready in western union to be transfer
to you which you will be receiving $5,000 per day until your total fund of
$1.5 Million complete. After our meeting today we concluded that your
first payment will be sent to you today so fell free to comply with this
office. mainwhile you are to Reconfirm the information bellow and forward
it to our department for the transfer to take place immediately.
Full Name=========
Country===========
Direct Phone======
Home Address========
City=======
Question========
Answer===============
Note that after confirming your INFO the only money you will send is $105
been the Renewing of your Fill from (I.M.F. Office) with information
Bellow so that we can proceed for the transfer of first payment
immediately.
Receivers Name:Chibuzor Nweke
Country:Benin Republic
City:Cotonou
Text Question:How Long
Answer:Today
Amount$105
MTCN,....
Looking forward to hear from you after the payment and be informed that
F.B.I is now wear of this transaction and they are now monitoring you so
if you contact any office without this Western Union Department office you
will be caught by the F.B.I and here your CODE (WU0190)any office that
contacted you without using this Code as a Subject Do Not Reply it and be
forwarded to us to investigate.Thank you for your understand and look
forward to hear from you and may God Bless you.
THANKS FOR OUR PATRONAGE,
YOURS SINCERELY
MR Frank Ben.
CALL:+229-988-309-40
EMAIL:ben_office@yahoo.com
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.
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