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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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "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.
- info.facu@yahoo.co.uk (Yahoo, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Enquiries CustomerCare Finance Bank Department <fmf_web_ng@live.com>
Reply-To: <enquiries.customercare.department@live.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:22:20 +0100
Subject: Re: Transfer Update ................Please Reply Urgent
Send Money Worldwide
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
WORLD WIDE.
BOITE
POSTALE : BP 1180 - COTONOU BENIN REP
Tel: (+229-6631-6691
) Fax: 229-6631-0000
Our Ref: FBOA /017521/Brp Date. 25th / 10 / 2011
Attn: Sir
This massage you are receiving
today requires urgent attention and response because the board of directors in
our corresponding Barclay's bank London is requesting your urgent response and
arrival schedules to meet with the bank in person over the consignment package
deposited on your behalf from the Courier delivery agent which contains the
total sum of $18.5 million
Because of the
amount involve, our corresponding Barclay's bank in London request that you must
come to the bank and open account with them before any further transfer will
take place, presently this fund is in the care of Mr. Johnson Walker who will
take you to the bank and assist you to open the account in Barclay's bank London.
Therefore your should try
as much as you can to respond urgent and contact Mr. Johnson
Walker for further information concerning your fund in London with the below information's.
Mr. Johnson Walker
Phone: +4470-4574-3611
Email: info.facu@yahoo.co.uk
Our corresponding back will not
charge you any fee for transferring your fund to your account once your presence
has been confirmed in the bank and you set up the account with them, as I said,
NO payment is required from you only your presents to the bank is acceptable.
Thanks
Yours faithfully
Mrs. Susan Egobia
Customer care Department
Finance Bank of African Plc
Tel. +229-6631-6691
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Anti-fraud resources:
