|
|
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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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)
- "westernun09@cc.tc" (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: United Nations Office <moncho521@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernun09@cc.tc
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:43:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Message is from United Nations/ MTCN: 489-613-6030
DEAR CUSTOMER.
Â
Surprise to hear from us this Message is from United Nations, This is to let you know that We have finally concluded to compensate you with sum of $600,000.00 for all the people that we find out there file for our office that been try to receive there payment from all over the country and due-to the charge they are demanding from you that you cannot be able to receive the payment and we have compensate you with sum of $600,000.00 and we sent you first transfer of $3,800 to you via western union and below is your money transfer control number. Please go to western union website; www.westernunion.com and try the transfer details to confirm that the transfer is available for pick up by receiver.Â
Â
Amount sent: $3,800
MTCN: 489-613-6030
Sender's First Name: Sonia Patricia
Sender's last Name: Ehiosun
Â
But you cannot pick this transfer at western union until you pay for the sum of $85.00 to western union for ownership certificate to enable them confirm that you’re the owner of the fund, Here is the information your to send the payment of $85.00 to them as below.
Â
RECEIVERS NAME________JUDE O. CHINEDU
CUNTRY___________________BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY___________________COTONUO
TEXT QUESTION____________HOW MADE HAVEN?
ANSWER___________________GOD
Â
After you transfer the $85.00 to western union you send the payment details below to them.
Â
NAME OF THE SENDER__________________
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER________________
And you can send the payment to western union to there email address as below.
Â
Western union head office Porto-novo
Director: Dr.Samuel Owudi
E-Mail :(westernun09@cc.tc)
Phone Number: +229-998-33-046
Â
You can even call them once you sent the payment details to them so that they can go obtain your ownership and let you know when you can pick your transfer and bear it in mind that after 4days if you not send the money to the western union that they will ask for more money for demurrage so try to send the payment to them today to avoid adding more money to you.
Â
Regards
Kopi Akinde
Â
|
Anti-fraud resources:
