|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- westernunionmoneytransfer23@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Veronica Jean" <calvan.johnson@barid.com>
Reply-To: westernunionmoneytransfer23@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:44:51 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Financial Minister Federal Republic of Benin
Attn
Dear
This
is to inform you that your inheritance Fund valued of $8.5M US DOLLAR
has
been deposited with the western union money transfer office here in
Benin republic.This
payment was arrangement by the Federal Republic of
Benin
Government, Under the co-operation of the new civilian Head of
State,
President DR BONI YAYI and the Governor of Central Bank Of Benin.
Your
payment will be sending to you by Western Union, the amount you will
receive
per day is $5000 The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will
send
you the currently standards track details you need to pick up your
($5,000.00)
payment by Western Union Money Transfer, you will be receiving
your
payment by $5000.00 usd every day till you receive the $8.5M The
director
administrator trust funds have already signed your payment,kindly
contact
the below person who is in position to release your payment
through
Western Union by $5,000.00 per a day.
Contact
Name: Director Mr.JOHN JIM
E-mail
Address: westernunionmoneytransfer23@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone
Number: +229 9988 3009
note
we have two options to pay you and you are the one to make your choice
options(1)our western union gold cash which you will withdraw daily $4000.00
option(2) receive daily cash $5000.00usd till the total payment completed there
is one certificate called (fund release order certificate) which you suppose to
obtain from high court services which noticed that you are not a Benin citizen
but you did not have it and that is only what you needed now.
According
to the instruction passed to this western union department from the office of
the (federal high court services) this will duly guarantee and cover the money
as being legitimately acquired from the Benin government. so i want you to know
that your fund of $7.8 million usd is still with the federal government account
but it will be release immediately to this western union office as soon as you
obtain the (fund release order certificate) according to our messenger which
went to the federal high court services office Benin republic for the release
order certificate he told us that it will cost you the sum of $250.00usd only
for the obtain of it. so he told us that they issue it within 2 hours as soon as
they receive the fee.
so
reconfirm us your full address with the option either you want it gold card
or daily per ok i will be awaiting to hear from you immediately with the payment
information to enable us obtain the (fund release order certificate.
Your
Receiver----
Your
Country-----
Your
City------
Your
Tel-----
Your
Passport-----
once
again you are advice to send us the fee with below information
1.
RECEIVER NAME:Anthony Edward Okoro
2.
COUNTRY: BENIN REPUBLIC.
3.
CITY: COTONOU
4.
QUESTION: URGENT?
5.
ANSWER: PAYMENT
6.
AMOUNT: US$250.00
7.
SENDER'S NAME?
8.
MTCN?
Yours
in service.
Mrs.
Veronica Jean
Financial
Minister Federal Republic of Benin
|
Anti-fraud resources:
