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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. )
- "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. )
- 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 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.
- michaelsasseltd@aol.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Michael Sasse" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michaelsasseltd@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 11:38:05 +0100
Subject: (PART TIME JOB OFFER) REFERENCE NUMBER EPH-45829-D197O
MICHAEL SASSE AND TEXTILES INDUSTRY LTD
10 Newport ave, Scoff ford Area
Oxford ,L349HA
44(0)871-720-1958
44(0)7024067042
E-mail: michaelsasseltd@aol.com
EMPLOYEE NEEDED!!!!
My Name is MICHAEL SASSE a Texan Working in London , I want to know if You would like to work online from home and get paid without affecting your present job? Actually i need a representative who can be working for our company as online book-keeper.We make lots of supplies to some of our clients in the states for which i do come to the states to receive payment and have it cashed after i supply them raw materials.
Its always too expensive and stressful for me to come to the states and receive such payment twice in a month so i therefore decided to contact you. I am willing to pay you 10% for every payment received by you from our clients who makes payment through you. Just in case you are concerned about how i got to your contact, it was through the American Chamber of Commerce for trust worthy individuals,i was directed on how to make an online search.
Pls note you don't have to be a book keeper to apply for the job..Kindly get back to me as soon as possible if you are interested in this job offer with your:
FIRST NAME...........
LAST NAME..........
ADDRESS...........
CITY............
STATE..........
ZIP CODE......
COUNTRY.......
PHONE NUMBER (S).
GENDER......
AGE.........
MARITAL STATUS....
E-mail..............
ATTESTATION
According to how you have been briefed earlier by a qualified representative of this establishment. You are required and mandated to receive payment on behalf of the above mentioned firm. You are to deduct 10% of all funds processed on a particular order and forward the balance payment via Western Union Money Transfer and MONEY GRAM to any of "MICHAEL SASSE" Group regional warehouses that will be given to you later.
You will notify the company a week ahead if eventually you want to discontinue this job so as to terminate all payment coming your way to avoid conflict.
PLS SEND REPLY ASAP TO (michaelsasseltd@aol.com)
Thanks God Bless.
Michael Sasse
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