|
|
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:
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnademola20@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 23:23:35 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION OFFICE LOME-TOGO
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY,
THIS MESSAGE IS FROM ECO BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT,WE ARE HERE TO INFORM YOU ABOUT YOUR PENDING FUNDS WITH WESTERN UNION OFFICE IN LOME-TOGO,WE ARE CONTACTING YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR FUNDS DEPOSITED ON YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS.THE DEPOSITOR IS NOW DECEASED AND WAS BANKING WITH OUR BANK HEAD OFFICE IN NIGERIA AND THIS FUNDS WAS TRANSFERRED TO OUR WESTERN UNION OFFICE LOME-TOGO,IN THE TOTAL SUM OF $1.5 MILLION (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD) IN YOUR NAME.
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO CONFIRM TO US THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ENABLE US TRANSFER YOUR MONEY VIA OUR WESTERN UNION OFFICE HERE TO OUR CORRESPONDENCE
OFFICE IN YOUR COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY.
1. FULL NAMES AND RECEIVING ADDRESS
2. OCCUPATION
3. AGE AND SEX
4. PHONE NUMBERS
5. RE-ACTIVATION FEES
IMMEDIATELY WE RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM YOU, WE SHALL ONLY PROCEED IF THE ACCOUNT HAS BEEN RE-ACTIVATED AND WE SHALL BEGIN AN IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS FUND IS IN A SUNDRY ACCOUNT WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN DECLARED DORMANT BY THIS BANK. HENCE YOU HAVE TO RE-ACTIVATE THIS DORMANT ACCOUNT BEFORE ANY DEPOSIT OR WITHDRAWALS CAN BE EFFECTED WITHIN.
THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
YOURS IN SERVICE
DR.JOHN ADEMOLA (DIRECTOR)
INTERNATIONAL REMMITANCE DEPT.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
