|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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: Mrs Robin Sanders Renee The Former American Ambassador To Nigeria <mrsrobinsandersrenee1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2014 02:03:31 -0700
Subject: From Office of Former U.S.A Ambassador To Nigeria AND Congo
>From Office of Former U.S.A Ambassador To Nigeria AND Congo
Mrs. Robin Sanders Renee
United State Of America.
Direct tel:+447452285594
Attn: Werner Robert Keidel,
It is with heart full of Joy I write you this letter considering all what
you have gone through in the past through the hands of the scammers both
now and years back while I was in Nigeria as the Ambassador of the country.
My joy is that finally, you have been approved of the total sum of US$1.6
as part of your funds from the UK AND AMERICAN Government as a compensation
payment from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
If you can still remember, I am Mrs. Robin Sanders Renee the Former U.S.A
Ambassador to Nigeria AND Congo. I am now in London-United Kingdom for a 48
days summit of the G 13 Members for the talk on how to make sure all you
foreigners been scammed in the past are paid part of your funds to the tune
of the amount as written above.
It is also a great Joy to inform you that all charges has been taken care
of by the American Government due to all the fees you have paid in the past
except for the NON refundable fees of One Hundred and Ninety Euros Only(190
Euro) for the Stamp duty on your Curriculum Vitae (CV) to make sure you own
the funds and this goes with the reconfirmation of your address and full
names with a working telephone number where all alert will be sent to as
soon as your account is credited with your Compensation payment of One
Million Six Hundred United States Dollars Only.
The Stamp Duty Fees should go to the information in Brazil Hence that is
where the funds are coming from below only via western Union Money transfer
which is the accredited means of the Non Refundable payment of 190Euro Only.
Name:...............Elisabeth Lima Bessa
Location:.......... San Pedro ,Boa Vista-Roraima-Brazil.
Text Answer.........No More.
As soon as the fees are sent, all we need is the MTCN numbers with the
reconfirmation of your details as requested.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Robin Sanders Renee
Former U.S.A Ambassador To Nigeria AND Congo
|
Anti-fraud resources:
