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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:
- "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. )
- "lagos" (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.
- 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: "URGENT TRANSFER NOTICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officenig@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:43:44 -0000
Subject: PAYMENT DETAILS FROM FINANCE MINISTRY OF NIGERIA
FROM THE PRESIDENCY
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
THE DESK OF: Dr. Mansur Muhtar
ATTN: Sir
YOUR OUTSTANDING PAYMENT IN NIGERIA HAS BEEN APPROVED TODAY.
This is to let you know that I have concluded every necessary arrangement as regards transferring your fund today. I concluded all the paper works today and hopefully the funds will be transferred on or before the end of Next week as soon as you comply with the instruction that is given to you.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has sincerely regretted your inability to receive this money in the past from those dubious officials who has been making things difficult for you contractors of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Please you are given 48hours to confirm your readiness to receive your fund by complying with the instruction that will be given to you concerning your payment and I am not ready to entertain any delays from anybody no matter who you are. This transaction only cost you $120 to obtain your "Payment Release Code" from office of the presidency.
Please keep me informed and forward the details of payment for the $120 dollars as soon as you have made the transfer because wo. The information to send the $120 dollars via Western Union is hereunder reconfirmed below:
NAME OF RECEIVER: JOHN MICHAEL
DESTINATION: LAGOS, NIGERIA
TEST QUESTION: IN GOD
ANSWER: WE TRUST
Hence I barely have only 100 days in my present office as the Finance Minister of Nigeria so I want to use my good office to help you regain your lost funds. When I received your letter of acceptance to receive your money, I will send to you a transfer form, which you will fill for the processing of your fund and return back to me and upon the receipt of the form your funds will be transferred without any delays
Based on the Federal Government of Nigeria security network monitored on your Payment shows that a lot of people who claimed to be working with the Government Are calling you every day to request for one form of fee or the other, please you are
Advised to desist from dealing with such people any more because they are Fake.
If you sincerely need these funds do your best to get back to me via my Email Address and upon hearing from you the form will be forwarded to you for the transfer of your money.
I expect your call today +234-708-190-1836 urgently. For more important briefings
Thanks for your expected co-operation,
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Mansur Muhtar
Honorable Minister of Finance
NB: PLEASE DON'T REPLY THIS E-MAIL IF YOU CAN'T SECURE THE ONLY NEEDED $120 FOR "PAYMENT RELEASE CODE"
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