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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- forihgnoperationdepartment@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. David Omotayo" <mr_jerryude020@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: forihgnoperationdepartment@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2010 08:23:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE IS: CF&SC/02354, AMOUNT DUE $1,5000.00USD?
THIS IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF A DIRECTIVE FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE DIRECTING AND CONFIRMING THE APPROVAL FOR THE TRANSFER/DELIVERY OF YOUR FUNDS (INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT/CHEQUE) TO YOUR AS A ONE OF SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATIONS PAYMENTS. AND BE INFORMED THAT YOUR REF/PAYMENTS CODE IS: CF&SC/02354, AMOUNT DUE $1,5000.00USD
THE FINAL APPROVAL FOR DELIVERY WAS JUST RECEIVED BY 4.00PM YESTERDAY AND WE FORIGN OPREATION DEPARTMENT STILL HAD TO SIT TO VERIFY THE APPROVAL AND ALSO PREPARE FOR DELIVERY TO YOUR DESIGNATED ADDRESS.
WE FORIGN OPERATION STILL ON RECEIPT OF THE DIRECTIVE FOR DELIVERY ALSO RECEIVED A DIRECTIVE FROM THE FINANCE MINISTRY REQUESTING THAT YOU PAY THE SUM OF $105.YOU ARE DIRECTED TO PAY THE SUM OF $105 TO THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE AS OWNER-SHIP AND PROCESSING FEES AS REQUESTED BY THE EXTERNAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.
THIS FEE IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD TO PROTECT YOUR FUNDS AND EFFECT IMMEDIATE DELIVERY.
HOWEVER ON RECEIPT OF THIS DEMAND AND CONSIDERING WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH I PERSONALY WENT THIS MORNING TO MEET THE DIRECTOR AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FEE IS GENUINE AND ALSO CONFIRMED IT WAS WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY LAW AND COMPULSORY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FINANCE MINISTRY WILL ASSIST YOU PROCURE SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE CONCERN AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW YOU FREE ACCESS TO YOUR FUNDS ONCE YOUR DRAFT/CHEQUE IS TRANSMITED TO YOUR ACCOUNT AFTER DELIVERY.
THIS SUM CANNOT BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR FUND AS THERE IS A DIRECTIVE THAT ALL MONIES BEING MOVED BY THIS FORIGN OPERATION SHOULD NOT BE TAMPERED WITH OR ANY AMOUNT DEDUCTED FROM IT DUE TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES ENCOUNTERED BY INDIVIDUALS WHOSE MONIES HAVE BEEN DIVERTED BECAUSE THERE WAS A LAW THEN ALLOWING FOR DEDUCTION FROM FUNDS AND A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL MONIES LEAVING THE COUNTRY.
ONCE MORE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT THIS FEE IS THE ONLY FEE REQUIRED AND CANNOT BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR FUNDS BECAUSE OF A DIRECTIVE FROM THE PRESIDENCY THAT MONIES BELONGING TO AFFECTED PARTIES SHOULD NOT BE DEDUCTED OR TAMPERED WITH EITHER BY THISFORIGN OPERATION NOR THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF YOUR MATTER AND TO PREVENT BANK OFFICIALS OR ANYONE FROM HAVING ANY ACCESS TO YOUR FUNDS
I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT THIS FORIGN OPERATION COMPRISES OF HONOURABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SOCIETY AND NOBODY NOR THIS FORIGN OPERATION REQUESTED FOR THAT MONEY TO BE PAID.THE $105 REQUESTED IS NOT FOR THIS FORIGN OPERATION BUT FOR THE EXTERNAL REMITTANCE DEPT. OF THE FINANCE MINISTRY AS THE COFFERS OF GOVERNMENT.
I ASSURE YOU THAT ON RECEIPT OF PAYMENT YOUR FUNDS WILL BE PROCCESSED AND ONCE CLEARED AN INTERNATIONAL BANK DRAFT WILL BE ISSUED IN YOUR NAME AND I WILL DIRECT IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OF YOUR FUNDS(DRAFT/CHEQUE) TO YOUR ADDRESS AS STATED IN YOUR APPLICATION AND IN OUR RECORDS.
YOU CAN SEND THE MONEY THROUGH ANY CONVENIENT AND FAST MEANS PROBABLY WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM IF IT SUITS YOU TO THE NAME OF THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANTS OFFICER OF THIS FORIGN OPERATION DEPARTMENT STATED BELOW.IT IS NOT COMPULSORY YOU SEND IT THROUGH WESTERN UNION BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS A FAST AND RELIABLE MEANS TO RECEIVE MONEY AND THE FACT THAT THIS FORIGN OPERATION HAS LIMITED TIME TO ROUND UP IT'S PAYMENT SCHEDDULE.
THIS IS THE NAME OF THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANTS OFFICER LISTED BELOW WHOM YOU SHALL SEND THE MONEY TO
NAME :MR.SUNDAY CHIDOZIE
ADDRESS: 01/BP2501
CITY;COTONOU
COUNTRY;REPUBLIC OF BENIN
TEST QUESTION...WHAT NAME?
ANSWER........... SUNDAY
SENDERS NAME?..............
SENDERS COUNTRY...........
AMOUNT........$105.00
MTCN (CONTROL NUMBERS)...............
YOU SHALL ALSO SEND THE DETAILS OF PAYMENT TO THIS EMAIL AND I WILL ALSO ADVICE YOU RECONFIRM YOUR ADDRESS DETAILS SO AS NOT TO MAKE ERRORNOUS DELIVERY.
1. Full Name:............
2. Phone Number:.
3. Sex: ................
4. Age ...............
5. Occupation .......
6. Nationality............
PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO SEND THIS FEES TODAY AS YOUR TRANSACTION REQUIRED VERY UREGENT AND IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.AS A MAN AND THE HEAD OF THIS FORIGN OPERATION I HAD SUFFERED SO MUCH TRYING TO SEE THAT YOUR FUNDS IS PROCCESSED AND CLEARED FOR DELIVERY THIS WEEK AND WILL NOT WANT TO LOSE THIS PLAN.
WHATEVER THE SITUATION I WILL ADVICE YOU GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY.
YOUR IMMEDIATE POSITIVE RESPONSE IS HIGHLY IMPERATIVE.
FOREIGN SCAM PAYMENT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT
TEL: 0022 99 09- 27-18
Email:forihgnoperationdepartment@yahoo.com
CONTACT PERSON: Mr. David Omotayo
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