|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "% will be for you" (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- james.borgenson001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: James Borgenson <jamesborgenson@att.net>
Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 08:05:04 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent Reply Please
Attn,
I am Mr. James Borgenson the Zonal Director to the Western Union
Money Transfer in Lome-Togo (West Coast of Africa).There are several
transfer made to several people pending in the western union system
here in Togo due to the fact that the senders were unable to send the
control detail to the receivers.
These funds are still pending in the Western Union System. Our head
office in the United State of America (New York) has instructed me to
effect payment to these appropriate persons within the next ten
working days.
The total amount of money showing in our computer system is Two
Million Eight Hundred and fifty Thousand US Dollars ($2. 850, 000. 00 US)
which I will want you to help me in receiving the funds in your
country. So I thought it wise to transfer all these funds via western
union. These funds will be shared 60% for me while 40% will be for
you. I will not want anything like greed to come in between the
transaction
I therefore seek your assistance in laying claim to this fund and I
will guide you in achieving this. Kindly reply to my private mail: james.borgenson001@gmail.com
Best regards,
James Borgenson
|
Anti-fraud resources:
