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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "customercaredesk@pacificwest.com" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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 <jhnhil@vodafone.it>
Reply-To: customercaredesk@pacificwest.com
Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 04:11:38 -0700
Subject: CONTACT PACIFIC WEST BANK PLC FOR YOUR TRANSFER.
Hello dear customer,
We wish to bring to your notice that due to bad financial report of our bank
western union department that we can no long transfer your fund through our
western union payment system and we need to inform you so that you will not
be taken unawares.
Please obey the below instructions and have your fund transferred to you
without any further delay. Your total amount is ($850,000.00usd) we do not
have the facilities to remit your fund because we where having some little
problem with IMF office that is while you could not pick up your fund and we
discover the problem very late. Please bear with us.
The Interpol cause problem on your fund transfer that was why you did not
received your fund as supposed to be. We have been trying to cover up but it
is now out of hand and we decided to tell you the gospel truth.
Be advised that our liaison branch here is interested on your payment as you
had complied with their instructions and we had forwarded your payment file
to them as demanded for immediate and onward wire transfer. Therefore you
are here by advised to contact them with your reconfirmed banking details
for the immediate transfer of your fund from our liaison branch Benin as
below bank of Africa - Benin (boa-Benin) rue du gouverneur bayol:bp 1280 -
Cotonou
Contact person: Mr.Richards Paul.
Director:Pacific West Bank plc
email :(customercaredesk@pacificwest.com)
Telephone No; 0022997928444
Contact person:Mr.Richards Paul Director on foreign operation. We are really
sorry for what you have passed through. hope to hear from you immediately
you contact the above bank (Pacific West Bank plc) with the information
given to you for the immediate wire transfer to you bear in mind beneficiary
should bear for the bank transfer charges and activation fee which is
$150.00Us Dollar Which they will use for the transfer of your total fund of
($850,000.00usd). You are required to contact the bank with your Banking
Details as stated bellow.
Your full name===========================Your home and office address=============Your current telephone number===========Your age=================================Home address=============================Full banking information. ==================Name of country==========================A scan copy of your id if possible==========Banking account were you want the fund to be transfer to=====
You are advised to send the require fee to them with the information below
Receiver Name:..........Mbanefo P.Austine
Country:................Benin Republic.
City:...................Cotonou
Text QUESTION:..........God
Text ANSWER:............blessing
MTCN Number#,......
Sender's Name:.......
Send an email to the bank with the above bank email and apply for wire
transfer of your fund as i have already informed the bank about you and On
receipt of your fund into your account endeavor to inform me immediately.
Yours faithfully.
Barrister Sunday Boni.
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