|
|
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:
- "deduct your 10%" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "money orders " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "cashiers check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.
- 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.
- +447045774080 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr DR BILL PINKET" <services@golinksynetlink.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:54:34 +0000
Subject: Offer Of Employment Letter/Job Recruitment
BILL TEXTILES AND FABRICS.
20 Holloway Road, London, N8 8DB.
Company Reg NO: 3019628
VAT Reg NO:735 773 701
Phone: +44 7045774080.
Fax: +44870-974-3659.
Good day,
My name is Bill , I am the C.E.O OF BILL PINKET TEXTILES AND
FABRICS;
My company produces various clothing materials, batiks, assorted fabrics
and tradition costumes.We have clients we supply weekly in the states and
my clients make payments for our supplies every week in form of money
orders or cashiers check which are not readily cash able outside the US or
Canada, so we need someone in the States/Canada/Europe to work as our
representative and assist us in processing the payments from our clients
and I will pay
him/her a weekly wage, by percentage.
All you need to do is receive this payment from our clients in the States
or Canada and get it cashed in your bank or a cashing center then deduct
your 10% and forward the balance to the company down here via money gram
or western union money transfer. Kindly get back to me with your full
information via my Email if only you are willing to work from home
part-time and get paid weekly by 10%. Thus Your information will be
forwarded to our numerous clients in the states so as to issue out
payment.
Full Name:
Full Contact address:
Phone Num:
Age:
sex:
occupation:
Marital status:
Nationality:
Send your reply to
employment.org@live.com
Hoping too hear from you soon.
Regard
DR BILL PINKET
Anti-fraud resources:
