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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.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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.
- +22999 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- wuoutletcotonou1989@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: office office <office-----1639@att.net>
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:06:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Manager Western Union Benin Republic
Be informed that your part-payment of (US$2.5 M) from International Monetary Fund Unit (IMF) has been approved to transfer via our department of Western Union, Meanwhile your urgent respond is highly needed with the re-confirmation of your details where and how to receive your funds in our office such as:
Your Name:.....
Country:......
State and City.......
Address..........
Telephone
Number............
Age...........
Sex.........
Occupation.........
Also the payment of US$7000.00 has already been made through Western Union for you to pick it up, but due to the instruction we received from International Monetary Fund Unit (IMF), You are required to pay sum of (US$140 usd) to activate your payment files and also to ensure you are the right person to receive the fund. Upon reception of the Activation fee, you can pick up the first transfer of US$7000.00 (M.T.C.N): 3207419868
Senders First Name: alberto
Senders Last Name: barreto
Question: WHO?
Answer: ME
Amount: $7000.00 USD
Call all or email me once you picked up this $7000.00 USD today. Here is the western union information, you can also track it on-line at https://wumt.westernunion.com for confirmation before going to their office to pick up.
You can easily get back to us via email or telephone# for more details while the amount you will be confirming daily is (US$7000.00) starting from the day we receive the Activation fee. You are to use the name below to send the Activation Fee via Western Union and send payment details to this Email : (wuoutletcotonou1989@hotmail.com)
RECEIVER NAME ---------- Aniukwu Christian
CITY--------------------COTONOU
COUNTRY-------------------BENIN REPUBLIC
TEST QUESTION---------------HONEST
TEST ANSWER-----------------PAYMENT
AMOUNT------------------------$140 US DOLLAR ONLY
SENDER NAME..............
MTCN.............
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Mrs. Doris Jones
Tel: +229 99.92.01.32
Email: (wuoutletcotonou1989@hotmail.com)
Manager Western Union Benin Republic.
Contact Western Union Payment office for your Funds today
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Anti-fraud resources: