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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:
- 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:
- "cost of transfer" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "account opening" (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- ya.bankoffice@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR JOHN PIUS <www.@sage.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR JOHN PIUS <ya.dhldirector324@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2016 08:06:12 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE
ATTENTION PLEASE
BENEFICIARY: CREDIT ALLOCATION NUMBER: CTPB/FM/1/7-2016-FQ3k
us bRanch phone number2543341824 Jun 23 at 3:09 PM
EMAIL ADRESS ya.bankoffice@yahoo.com
African Development Bank group.
ADDRESS: Plot 813 lake chad crescent
Martama district cotonou republic benin
TRANSFER UPDATES FROM AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Our Ref: FMF/OM/56/34/06
BENEFICIARY: CREDIT ALLOCATION NUMBER: CTPB/FM/1/7-2016-FQ3
TEXTED CREDIT REFFRENCE CODE: XXTG.45M.WDC09/XXGTM
AUTHORITY TO REMIT CODE: PENDING RELEASE
PIVATE EMAIL ya.bankoffice@yahoo.com
Am very happy to inform you that your payment has been approved after
the meeting that took about 4 hours after the arrive of the minister
of finance and now you are now the real beneficiary of your
$14,.7 And I must tell you that you are a very lucky person
because your payment approved by the minister of finance with the
IMF representative after the meeting which was not easy but with my
legal assistance and IMF is to make sure you did not have any more
problem after your funds is transfer as you are directed And now we
are happy to Congratulate you as the real beneficiary that means that
your funds must be transfer to you as soon as you work with the bellow
directive
Option to received your funds.
Option (1)
Bank To Bank Transfer: This is a direct electronic transfer that will
enable you receive the sum of bank money in your account that you
provided for this Bank to Effect the transfer as it is always done
electronically. It will take three (3) business days to reflect in the
account.
Cost of transfer:...........$45
Non Residential Permit :...$53
Vat :.................$31
Total :.....................$129
Option (2)
Bank Account Opening: You will have to open a new Bank account here
and it will be registered for international transfer and you can make
an online transfer as 24 Hours
it will take to get the account done
Account Opening143
Vat :.......................$ 101
Total :....................$244
Option (3)
ATM Card Payment: You will have to receive an ATM Card and clearance
documents approved this will take two (2) business days to deliver to
your doorstep. We will have
to use our courier company to deliver the parcel to your location.
Post Fee :.............$105
Vat :..................$99
Total :................$204
Any option you make now, we will start processing transfer, then you
need to comply with the payment for the transfer to take place before
the end of today (23 th june 2016) and note that you do not have to
send any more money after this only payment because your payment is
approved now.
Make your choice and send the money through Money Gram transfer or
Western Union with this information below and wait for good news.
Receiver Name .....PETER UWA
Country ..... Benin Republic
City ....PORT NOVO
Text Question ..... When
Text Answer ..... Now
Amount ..... $
MTCN .....
Sender Name .....
Sender Country .....
PLEASE NOTE: In customer relation in our banking service, our duty
is to save and protect our customers to avoid any future fee or cost
more and that is why we have to wait till a payment of our customer is
approved before we can advice you with only the requested fee to get
your funds Which you have the option on this email to pick up your
choice and work with the directive for the conclusion of your
transaction. Here is the attachment information of your payment
approval that was sign by the minister of finance with the
international monitory funds officers in order this bank to wired
your funds as soon as you pick up your option and also on the
attachment is the Legality certificate from the court of law as the
real beneficiary of 5million usd, the federal government making you
the real beneficiary and meaning that you are not expected to pay any
more money after the option fee is confirm today....
I HAVE CALLED YOUR NUMBER TO BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE BUT YOU
PHONE SINCE NOT TO CONNECT, I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU IN A JIFFY, CALL
ME WITH THIS LINE.+229)99084254
Waiting for your soonest response.
Best Regards
Mr. DERICK ARMS
(President) African Development Bank group.
COPYRIGHT AFDB BANK 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESER
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