|
|
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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "ecobankbeninrepublic05@e-mail.ua" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "paulsamuel@qatar.io" (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: "Mr. Paul Samuel" <maahll@sbcglobal.net>
Reply-To: ecobankbeninrepublic05@e-mail.ua
Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 04:22:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: TRY TO CONTACT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DELAY?
ATTN BENEFICIARY,
The Western Union have be waited for you since to respond to them regarding the Funds Ownership Cerificate so that they can send you your payment after obtaining the Document of the Funds Ownership Cerificate but they did not receive the Funds Ownership Cerificate so the Western Union return the fund back to my office and i went ahead to deposite the fund in a bank but i did not heard from you since after informing you that your funds was with Western Union.
Then I went and deposited the cash with ECO BANK PLC here in (Benin Republic) because it has been in the Western Union Office since waiting for you to forward them the Funds Ownership Cerificate and now they returned it back to my office and is in the bank now and it was deposited in a bounded account which is no body's account .
I want You to contact the ECO BANK BENIN REPUBLIC to let them know when they will Transfer your fund and send your information to them to enable them know were they will wired your fund to within 24 hours of you contacting them .
YOUR FULL NAME.............
HOME ADDRESS..................
YOUR TELEPHONE..................... .........
FULL BANKING INFORMATION...........
SWIFT CODE.......................... .
NAME OF COUNTRY....................
NAME OF BANK.........................
ACCOUNT NUMBER........................ .
ROUTING NUMBER........................ .
The only money you have to send to them is $95 for the form they will obtain for you which will issue by the Federal High Court of Benin Republic for the transaction to be legal and it is $95.00 Us Dollars to enable them obtain the form on your behalf immediately and wire the money into your account without any delay.
This is the bank Contact Address,
ECO BANK PLC BENIN REPUBLIC.
Executive Director MR M Anold Apke..
DIRECTOR FOREIGN OPERATIONS
DEPARTMENT(EBB),
EMAIL..(ecobankbeninrepublic05@e-mail.ua)
TELEPHONE ...+229-9381350
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid delay.
Thanks And Remain bless.
Mr, Paul SamuelE-mail; paulsamuel@qatar.io
|
Anti-fraud resources:
