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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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "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. )
- "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 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: "REV Dr, MR.FREDRICK MOORE" <kumaran705586@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: departmentatm18@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:42:56 -0800 (PST)
Subject: KINDLY NOTE THAT YOUR ATM CARD DELIVERY REQUIRED VERY URGENT ?
BENIN REPUBLIC
Tele Phone +229 99 09 27 18
WELCOME TO ATM DEPARTMENT OFFICE SERVICE BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS: AVENUE STERMETZ COTONOU BENIN
ATTN; Beneficiary I am In receipt of your mail, and understand that you are the owner of the ATM Master Card registered with our company. However we have your address already as your atm card has been programmed for delivery.
Your are requested to send the security keeping fee which is $55.00usd immedaitely to enable us effect the delivery urgently,becuase the money paid by the depositor does not cover the security keeping fee.Therefore in your own interest send the $55.00usd to enhance the speedy delivery of your atm card to your destination.
On receipt of the security keeping fee today, your atm card will be delivered along with other atm card that have been programmed to dispatch by tomorrow evening over night flight.Therefore send the money with our receiving agent name below.
Senders Names...............
Receiver Name__________Ejiofor P. UDOJI
Country___________Benin Republic
Test Question_______55
Answer___only
Amount__________$55
MTCN------------
After transfer send the MTCN numbers from the Western Union to enable us pick the security keeping fee and effect delivery immediately. We are waiting to received your Payment information Remember to forward the western union information such MTCN
THIS IS THE COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER OF YOUR ATM CARD TG58945
ZIP CODE
Be informed that every arrangement atm the deliverig of your atm has being concluded.We are waiting to receieve the information of the payment today and the recomfirmation of your address and your nearest airport.
Note that once you fail to send the fee today that mean that your security keeping fee will be added ok.
REGARDS
REV Dr, MR.FREDRICK MOORE
Tele Phone +229 99 09 27 18
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