|
|
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:
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "lagos" (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.
- atmcenter2002@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM PAYMENT CENTER" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcenter2002@yanhoo.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:57:47 +0700
Subject: [SPAM 4: KAS] Attention Respected Fund Owner ( Your Payment Is Ready ) Call Mr. John lordcap +23494968818
OUR REF: 0012/BHC/FBI/ATM/2012
We wish to bring to your notice that your email was listed by the British Financial
Intelligent Unit (BFIU) for these exercise of compensating scammed victims, those
listed some have been endorsed by the ASIA PACIFIC in Malaysia yours was among those
reported unpaid as at today and we wish to instruct you to see the instruction of
the commission to make sure you receive your compensation instantaneously as a beneficiary
of $850,000.00 USD. Accredited on an ATM Card.
Kindly forward your information to the email address below:
Full Name:
Delivery Address:
Country:
Phone Number:
Occupation:
Sex/Age:
Verification Code: ATM-ASIA701
Note: Your Personal Contact/Communication Code With MR John Lordcap Is "247" You
Are Advice To Send Your Full Details as requested.
Take Note the money you will send to him before your ATM CARD will be Release to you is just $320 for the Pin Code
of your ATM CARD.
Below is the details you are to send the money to and not this is the only payment.
Western Union Information or Money Gram for Payment:
Receiver’s Name: Noel Eboh
Country: Lagos Nigeria
Test Question: Very?
Test Answer: Urgent
Amount:320
Do notify us immediately you make the payment by sending the details bellow to us:
Sender's Name:
Sender's Address:
M.T.C.N:
Immediately the above details are received and validated, your payment will be processed within
48hours.
Call:+2348094968818
Email: atmcenter2002@yahoo.co.jp
Regars.
John Lordcap.es
|
Anti-fraud resources:
