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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- 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 <westemunionmoneytransfer@w.cn>
Reply-To: westermunionmoneytransfer@w.cn
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2010 15:31:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Payment Information
FROM THE DESK OF: DR. KHALID FELLAHI
THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT AFRICA OF WESTERN UNION
TEL/FAX: 00 229 6637 9445
Dear
It is my humble obligation to write you this letter as regards the authorization of your owed payment through our most respected financial institution (Western Union Money Transfer). I wish to inform you that we have made the first payment of $7,000 this morning which you suppose to pick up at any western union outlet in your location. Your can now pick this $7,000 at any western union outlet nearest to you with the below information.
MTCN: 3548923604 Track it online at (www.westernunion.com)
Sender's Name: Flore Biet
Amount: $7,000.00 only
The money is available for pick up now at any western union office. Please make sure that you contact me on 00 229 6637 9445 after you received the first payment so that I will wire the second payment immediately. I look forward to the pleasure of your kind favorable response fairly soon, in the meantime with kindest regards and best wishes.
I remain,
Mr. Khalid FELLAHI
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