|
|
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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Cyrille S. Mark" <amechiashalla@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: cusambassador@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2013 00:35:21 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: US Ambassador to Republic of Benin.
I write this mail to inform you that I didn't raise up the $188usd to complete as they requested, I only got $150usd, so see if you can try your side to raise the balance of $33usd remaining then send it with below information, and immediately I confirm it to add it to complete the demand needed $183usd then they will get to your destination ASAP.
Note that after 5hours and we didn't it done as they said then the shipping will suspend and they wouldn't accept the fee again.
Be advice to send the $33 right away with below information to enable the shipment arrived in your destination tomorrow 6th.
You can send it via western union Or Money Gram with below name.
Receiver's name.........Mike Osita
Country..........Benin Republic
City...........Cotonou,
Text Question.......What City?
Answer..........Cotonou
Amount ........$38
Sign His Excellency Cyrille S. Mark US Ambassador to Republic of Benin. You can reach my Secretary at +229-983-205-77
Thanks and have a nice day.
Sign
His Excellency Cyrille S. Mark
US Ambassador to Republic of Benin. You can reach my Secretary at
+229-983-205-77
|
Anti-fraud resources:
