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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "abuja" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "James f. Entwistle" <infoin8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jamesentwistle655@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2015 10:24:37 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEW?
Embassy of the United States of America
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, Abuja.
Dear Friend
THIS IS Ambassador James F. Entwistle. UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA. I SHALL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN
OFFICIAL MEETING ON TUESDAY AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR FUNDS THROUGH
AN ATM MASTER CARD
OF $15M ALONG WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS
BECAUSE AS AN AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, I
AM A US GOVERNMENT AGENT AND I HAVE THE VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH
CUSTOMS. AS SOON AS I AM THROUGH WITH THE MEETING I SHALL THEN PROCEED
TO YOUR ADDRESS. (SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE
YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE).
YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH IN THIS TRANSACTION THAT MAKES ME WONDER.
YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND
THERE IS NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. CHECK HERE:
http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE GREAT DOUBT AND DISTRUST
IN YOUR HEART IN RESPECT TO THIS EMAIL COUPLED WITH THE
FACT THAT SO MANY MISCREANTS AND IMPOSTERS(SCAMMER'S) HAVE TAKEN
POSSESSION OF THE INTERNET TO FACILITATE THEIR NEFARIOUS DEEDS,
THEREBY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR GENUINE AND LEGITIMATE
BUSINESS CLASS
PERSONS TO GET ATTENTION AND RECOGNITION YOUR PACKAGE($15M) MUST BE
REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE FOR ME TO DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND
THE COST OF REGISTERING IT IS $115.THE FEE MUST BE PAID IN THE NEXT 50
HOURS VIA WESTERN UNION TRANSFER SO THAT ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT CAN
BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.YOU SHOULD SEND THE FEE
DIRECTLY TO THE CARGO
REGISTRATION OFFICER WITH THE INFO BELOW-
RECEIVER'S NAME:........ MORDI UCHE
ADDRESS: NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION:.......... GOD IS
ANSWER:................. GOOD
AMOUNT:................. $185
SENDERS NAME:...........
SENDERS ADDRESS:........
REFERENCE NO:..........MTCN
The payment is to be made through WESTERN UNION TRANSFER
AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE FEE MAKE SURE YOU SEND ME THE
PAYMENT INFORMATION. MY FLIGHT IS TUESDAY AND I EXPECT
YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT THE DELIVERY CAN BE
COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY
FAULT IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.
Also you are required to fill the personal data form
below to enable me reconfirm your DATA.
( DATA INFORMATION )
Full Names:....................
Country:.......................
Valid Cell Phone Number:.......
Address:.......................
Email Address:.................
Occupation:....................
Gender:........................
Nationality:...................
Age:...........................
SIGN
HIS Ambassador James F. Entwistle.
US AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
CHECK HERE VIEW MY DATA
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