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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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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: OVER DUE PAYMENT OFFICER UN <ambassadormatheww@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: ucompany@blumail.org
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:29:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Great News World Company can deliver your $6.5Millions without fees or problem.
My dear,
How are you doing today,I am Susanna Rice United Nations Ambassador. I wish to inform you that I have cashed your draft/cheque in worth of $USD6.5Million for your overdue payments, due to the expiry date in the cheque I boxed the money and deposited it for shipment with World Courier Company Benin Ltd (WCC), so to deliver the box to you and to avoid another hoax as you were disappointed in the past, You are required to contact the World Courier Company Benin Ltd (WCC) with your delivery address and your direct telephone numbers so that they will commence immediately with the delivery of your box to your nominated address as your consignment and the documents require for the smooth delivery has been forwarded to them.
Outline Below is their contact information meanwhile feel free to contact the director on his phone as soon as you receive this notification and follow our instruction so that your well sealed consignments funds tagged Workings Material from United Nations will be deliver to you in peace as all the documents require by your government for the delivery are intact.
Contact Person: Mr. Jones D. Wilks. General attorney World Courier Company (WCC),
Tel; +229-99-09-30-23. Fax; 2299-996-314-99
E-mail: ucompamy@blumail.org
Try to indicate all this CODES to them because it will prove that you are the rightful person that own the Consignment Box deposited in their custody.
Shipment Code #WCC1009.
Consignment Receipt # 10192 verified by head officer.
Delivery Security Code #WCCC1091UN/567
DEPOSIT #; WCCUN1091/BUN/91/
Note; The World Courier Company Benin Ltd (WCC) don't know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a Box of 'Working Material from United Nations to ensure safe delivery to you as i you have waited for it so much also i ensure i handed over the require documents to them'. They don't know the true content is your $6.5Millions. This is to avoid them from delaying with the Box. Don't disclose the content of the Box. Please make sure you send this needed information to the general attorney of World Courier Company Benin Ltd (WCC) Mr. Jones D. Wilks with the e-mail address given to you.
This information listed below should be forward to WCC director when contacting them for your delivery;
Your Name.
Home address.
Current Phone number.
Country.
Passport copy or driver license for safe delivery purpose.
Note::You will pay a delivery fee of $68 dollars which include the delivery Vat this measure is to ensure safe delivery of your total funds which is in a consignment box to your postal address as United Nation is clearly monitoring the delivery for you to ensure its carried out smoothly and very fast.
According to the World Courier Company to avoid delay in your delivery because of the instructions given by United Nations staffs when we deposited the
consignment with his company he tagged it for immediate delivery to you as soon as you contact his company because he do not want delay he also gave us the payment information for paying the delivery charge to forward to you so your delivery motorization will be process and be done as soon as you contact them with your address and the fee via their contact information given.Be rest assure this is all they need to get your funds delivery to you in peace.
SEND THEM THE FEE VIA THIS DETAILS THROUGH WESTERN UNION.
Receiver Name::Godwin Emeka
Destination::Benin Rep
City::Coco tome
Test::Whom?
Answer::W.
$68 usd
Forward the payment details such as the MTCN and sender name as soon as you effect the payment for them to process your delivery and get it done now.
Please keep me updated as soon as you contact World Courier Company for your funds final delivery as i am watching them for you properly.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Susanna Rice.
United Nations Ambassador to USA.
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