|
|
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:
- 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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "westerunion90@live.hk" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Western Union Office Annex <info@wester.com>
Reply-To: westerunion90@live.hk
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:35:11 -0500
Subject: Western Union Alert!!
How are you today?
I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 dollars through
Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full
compensation payment of USD1.800,000.00 via western union by this government.
I called to give you the information through phone as internet hackers
were many
but i cannot reach you yesterday even this morning.So,I decided to
email you the
MTCN and sender name so that can pick up this USD5000.00 to enable us send
another USD5000.00 by tomorrow as you knows we will be sending you only
USD5000.00 per day.Please pick up this information and run to any
western union
in your country to pick up the USD5000.00 and send us email back to send you
another payment tomorrow.
ManagerMrs.Anita Daniel
Email:westerunion90@live.hk
email me once you picked up this USD5000.00 today.
Here is the western union information to pick up the USD5000.00,
MTCN : 622 155 4897
Sender's Name:Steven Albert
Question: Honest
Answer:Trust
Amount: 5000.00USD
I am waiting for your email once you pick up USD5000.00,
Thanks
Mrs.Anita Daniel
----------------------------------------------------------------
Mensaje enviado por medio de mail.universitario.org.pe
http://www.universitario.com.pe
--
Este mensaje ha sido analizado por MailScanner
en busca de virus y otros contenidos peligrosos,
y se considera que está limpio.
For all your IT requirements visit: http://www.transtec.co.uk
|
Anti-fraud resources:
