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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. )
- 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: =?UTF-8?B?V2VzdGVybiBVbmlvbsKuIEN1c3RvbWVyIFNlcnZpY2Vz?= <dhg4342@peoplepc.com>
Reply-To:
=?UTF-8?B?V2VzdGVybiBVbmlvbsKuIEN1c3RvbWVyIFNlcnZpY2Vz?= <moneytransferagent@y7mail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:11:12 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
Subject: Your Western Union Account Set-Up.
Dear Customer,
(IMF) International Monetary Fund wrote a letter to me today being 23rd of
August, 2010 that I should release your payment of USD$50.000.00 through my
department which will be released to you through follow options:
(1) We would have an Western Union Account Set-up on your behalf which is
going to cost you sum of (USD$112.00). (2) After Setting up the Western Union
Account then you can start making your transfer by yourself depends on the
amount your country accepts through Western Union. (3) You will be allowed
to receive only 3-payments per day.
Please if above options is accepted kindly get back to us with your Name &
Address & we will get back to you with more direction of the Account. Is
because this is the only way of receiving your transfer without delay.
Your earlier reply will be appreciated. Email: moneytransferagent@y7mail.com
Yours Faithful
Mr. Donald Smith
+229 9794 8648
________________________________________
PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet
http://www.peoplepc.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
