|
|
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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "mr.robinsonjoness@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Robinson Jones" <customerscare121@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.robinsonjoness@live.fr
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:10:54 +0100
Subject: Deadline date issue to you is 28th of Feb 2014 and if you do not respond
Dear Customer,
This message is sent to you at the request of United Nations
Compensation Commission Un Habitat 2014 to notify you that your check
delivery is still here with us Ups Courier Western Africa De Republic
of Nigeria and it was kept under the Security Officer which we are
here to remind you.
Important delivery information: Since your compensation check package
worth $2,811,041.00 USD. Has been here with us. This is the final
opportunity to reach out to you right there once more to enable you
claim your package from us this time.
The Tracking Number of your package will be sent to you as soon as
your Security Keeping fee of $100.00 USD is sent and noted to us.
Deadline date issue to you is 28th of Feb 2014 and if you do not
respond, then you will miss your package delivery which is final
proposal to you and last opportunity.
The requested Security Keeping payment directives: Western Union
Money Transfer.
Receiver's payment instruction:
Receive Name: Chukwudi Nzediegwu
Country:.....Nigeria
city .....lagos
Text question:Year
Text answer: 2014
Amount sent:................?
Mtcn number:...............?
Sender's name:.................?
Mtcn number is to be provided by you to enable confirm your payment.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Mr.Robinson Jones
Ups Courier Dispatch Manager
mr.robinsonjoness@live.fr
|
Anti-fraud resources:
