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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:
- "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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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 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.
- atmclaimsagents@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DESK OF UFOT EKAETE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmclaimsagents@googlemail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:48:52 -0500
Subject: ATTN..YOUR ATM CASH CARD IS READY FOR DELIVERY...public
Attn:
I want to inform you that your payment verification and confirmations is
"OK". Therefore, we are happy to inform you that an arrangement has
perfectly been concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible in our
bid to be transparent.
However, it is our pleasure to inform you that your ATM Card Number;
40000014521378890 has been approved and upgraded in your favor.
Meanwhile, your Secret Pin Number will be available as soon as you confirm
to us the receipt of your ATM CARD.
The ATM Card Value is $12 Million USD Only.
You are advised that a maximum withdrawal value of US$15,000.00 is
permitted daily. And we are duly inter-switched and you can make
withdrawal in any location of the ATM Center of your choice/nearest to you
any where in the world. We have also concluded delivery arrangement with
our accredited courier service Company to oversee the delivery of the ATM
Card to you without any further delay.
I want to inform you that the courier company responsible for the dispatching of the
ATM card to you will leave Nigeria to get to your country in 16 hours as
soon as the delivery fee of $150 has been received here in this office.
Also the card will be packaged as a parcel including the documents that
will back you up as the real owner of the said money.
Note also that payment of the $150 should be remitted via western union money transfer to the head of delivery department with the information given below
RECEIVERS NAME:OLUSOLA DASILVA
RECEIVERS LOCATION:NIGERIA
SECRET QUESTION:MORNING
SECRET ANSWER:AFTERNOON
MTCN NUMBERS............
TAKE NOTE: The parcel was declared as OFFICIAL MATERIALS meant for special delivery to you so do not disclose the content to anyone and you would be given the tracking number in which you would know the status of your ATM CASH CARD.
Please kindly confirm to us the receipt of this email.
Treat as very urgent, as I also remind you once again that your ATM Card
is ready.Get in touch with Mr. Ufot Ekaete for more information.
Email Address : atmclaimsagents@googlemail.com
Thanks and God Bless You
Best regards,
Ufot Ekaete.
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