|
|
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. )
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "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)
- "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. )
- "western_union_transfer77@w.cn" (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 FRANK WEST <z21huang@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: western_union_transfer77@w.cn
Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:50:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR ATTENTION,
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Contact Person:Mr MR FRANK WEST
Tele phone Number: +2299-876-9174
DATE 13/07/2010
Western Union Payments
Western Union YOUR ATTENTION,
Based On Circle Board Mettings Of IMF International Monitory Funds Office Under
The Schedules Of United Nations Foundations After Long Deliberations With The
Western Union Payment Department .
We Have Received Revocable Instructions From Presidency To Re-amend All The
Payment Files Of Pended Fund Into Money-gram Payment Enable Each Beneficiary
Receive Their Payment By Means Of Western Union International Payment.
Please be advised that a maximum withdrawal value of US$8500 is
permitted in daily basis until you receive your total sum of $7.500,000.00us
dollars(Seven million and five hundred thousand united states dollars.
And we are duly inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location of
Western union office of your choice/nearest to you any where in the world.
We are supposed to release your western union Reference numbers for you to pick up your first
installmental payment of $8500 us dollars but due to the on-going documental
notarilization between the state federal high court and our official
Supervisor will take 4-hours to be accomplished.
Please Contact our Western union bank Supervisor with his official informations bellow;
E-mail: (western_union_transfer77@w.cn)
Current phone number +2299-876-9174
And reconfirm your first installmental payment of $8500 us dollars Reference numbers because we receive call from him just few minutes ago stating that every processe of notarilization is now perfected.
It is Mandatary you call the western union representative with his office line +2299-876-9174
And direct him the best way to effect your signature on your release order certificate before you can confirm your mtcn as well.
Thanks
MR FRANK WEST
WESTERN UNION
GENERAL OVERSEER
|
Anti-fraud resources:
