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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Marker E. Adams" <kelvin.wasghinton201@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: uasemabssyheadoffice@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 02:32:43 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: THIS MESSAGE IS WROTE TO BE READ BY OWN OF THIS E-MAIL ONLY.
Â
U.S.
Department
of States. Greeting from USA
Embassy in Benin
republic.
Â
THIS MESSAGE IS WROTE TO BE READ
BY OWN OF THIS E-MAIL
ONLY.
Â
Â
Attn;My DearÂ
Â
We have been waiting for you to
contact us regarding your consignment box which GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY
suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by U.S Department
of States Bureau and requesting for clearance certificate which
will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box before it will be
released to be delivered to you.
After the meeting held by our board of director which was
concluded that The delivery of your consignment to you address must be complete
within five working days upon your comply to our requirement which is by sending
the sum of $82.00 dollars to enable obtain the needed certificate and effect
with the delivery of your consignment immediately.
Note that your consignment box has been arrived in US
embassy and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is
given. Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon
contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
Â
1,
your full name=====
2, your home address===
3, your
occupation=====
Â
Once you make the payment and also notify us with the above
information we will release your consignment to you. And you are going to pay
the money to Benin Republic as the origination
of the Consignment box
in favour of Mr. Onyi John as our accountant officer in Benin Republic Send the
$82.00 dollars through western union
Money Transfer once you receive this email message with the information
below for immediate release of your consignment
box.
Â
Receiver====Mr. Onyi John
Country========Benin
republic
City========Cotonou
Code: ==========229
Test
Question: =====T Who
Answer: ======== =John
Amount: ======= $82.00
Â
Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN
for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your consignment.
Please, this is a matter of some urgency!
Â
Note that any unclean consignment will be return to GLOBAL
EXPRESS COURIER Company ltd after 5 days.So you are urgently advice to comply
with our demand so that we will Release your consignment.
Â
Note; Anytime you're writing to me try not to forget this
(code 229) because it will assure me that you're the right person.
Â
Â
REGARDS,
Mr. Marker E.
Adams
Public Relation Officer United State
Embassy.
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