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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "fbiofficefilebe@hosanna.net" (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.
- 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: "FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION \(FBI\)" <mamasita30@verizon.net>
Reply-To: fbiofficefilebe@hosanna.net
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:13:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT NOTICE FROM (FBI)
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)
1110 Third Avenue Seattle, Benin 98101
GOOD NEWS
This is notify you that we have arrested some of those internet scammer that extorts money from you,We where able to get your email through those that extort money from you when the FBI got them arrested , One of them gave us your email address.
The government of this country Benin Republic are rewarding you the sum of ($800,000.00USD) as one of the scam victim.We have deposited your Fund with INFINITY INSURANCE DELIVERY COMPANY here in Benin Republic to be deliver to you.Note that all the deliver charges has been paid on your behalf.You are require to get FBI OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM here in our office to enable us confirm that you are the real owner of this Email and for the delivery of your fund.to get a copy of this form will cost you the sum of $70dollar you are advice to fill the FORM below and forward it to our office immediately with the payment for quick process and if you cannot send this payment you should not reply to this mail to avoid us have problem with you.
FBI OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM
Your Full Name:
Your Country:
Your Home Address:
Your Current Telephone Number:
Your Presents Occupation:
Your Identity:
Your Age:
The Amount You Lost:
Get back to us immediately with the payment details so that we can process and give you the INFINITY INSURANCE DELIVERY COMPANY email address so that they can have your fund delivery to you send the $70 for the needed documents to enable your fund deliver to you within 3days
Below is the information you can use to send the payment to us via western union or money gram.
Receivers Name.............CHINEDU OKOLO
Country....................... BENIN REPUBLIC
City.......................... ...COTONOU
Text Question................ARE YOU SURE
Answer........................YES
After the payment you send the payment details with your information to this email address below.
MTCN.......................
sender Name......................
Emails: fbiofficefilebe@hosanna.net
Tele-Phone Number +229-999-71-976
Waiting to hear from you soonest.
Regards
Director FBI Office Benin Republic
Dr.Smith Pope
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