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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:
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
- ministryhouseofnigeriaplc@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Paul Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ministryhouseofnigeriaplc@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 09:48:54 -0500
Subject: FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE HOUSE OF NIGERIA
FROM THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE HOUSE OF NIGERIA
This Email is from the Ministry Of Finance House Of Nigeria. We hereby bring to your notice that your compensated fund that was surpose to be deliver to you by the courier company is been brought back to our office due to some reason that you refuse to comply with them and also you refuse to pay for the shippment fee which is just $300.
Meanwhile it has came to our notice that you have been dealing with some group of people that claim to have your fund but we the Ministry Of Finance House advise that you should stop every thing you are be doing with them because all there are trying to do is to rip you off your money.
We want to bring this back to your notice again that your ATM CARD Worth $950,000.00 us dollars is here in our office which you are given just 72hours to get back to us and let us know if you will be able to make the payment or not and if you are not ready to make the payment let us known so that we can cancel your compensated fund worth $950,000.00, but if you known you are ready to make the $300 payment for the shippment fee of your Compensated ATM CARD to enable the courier company commence delivery, get back to us and let us know when you will be making the payment.
Also we want you to know that we have all neccessary papar work that is needed for this delivery so you have to get back to us so that we can get your ATM CARD delivered to you and also we want you to get back to us immediately with your personal details so that we can reconfirm your information.
Note: Your fund is now approve by the State President and also your fund has an Inssurance Certificate so we advise you go ahead and wire the $300 for the shippen fee so that the Courier Company can commence with the Delivery.
Below is the payment information to use.
Receiver Name: Justice Emmanuel
Receiver Address: Lagos Nigeria.
Test Question: Good
Test Answer: Faith
Amount:$300
MTCN...........Fill In
Fill in below with your personal information.
Full Name..............
Full Address..............
Phone Number...............
Sex..........
Occupation.........
Age.......
We don't have much to tell you than to let you known that you just have 72hours to still have your fund or to loos your fund so right now go and wire the fee of $300 for the shippment fee so that the delivery of your ATM CARD can get to your home address in your country.
Note: As soon as you make the payment of the $300 down, you are been advise by the management of the MINISTRY OF FINANCE HOUSE NIGERIA advise you forward to us the scan copy of the payment receipt.
WE AWAIT TO READ AN EMAIL FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Thanks for your Concerning.
Best Regards
Justice Emmanuel
MINISTRY OF FINANCE HOUSE
ministryhouseofnigeriaplc@gmail.com
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