|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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. )
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- mrs.kerrykeister@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Kerry Keister" <office--------7556@att.net>
Reply-To: mrs.kerrykeister@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:26:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Diplomatic Mrs.Kerry Keister
Hello
I’m Diplomatic Mrs.Kerry Keister I have been trying to reach you on
yourE-mail about an hour now just to inform you about my successful
arrivalin John F.Kennedy International Airport with your two boxes
ofconsignment worth 2.5M USD which I have been instructed by
NEBRODIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE to be delivered to you. The
Airportauthority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to
themthat the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I
havepresented the papers I handed to them and they are very much
pleasedwith the paper’s I presented but the only thing that is still
keepingme here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the
boxes,one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery
tag sothat I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery
successful.I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag
will costyou just $69 Dollars only to get the two tag placed on the
boxes asthat tag will
enable me get to your house successfully without
anyinterference,thescanned the boxes and found out that taccepted by any
bank inthe whole
world.
asI can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I
haveto take care of in Bangkok. Here are the papers backing the
fundstogether as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit
thefund successfully with these papers. I have i more vital paper with
mebut I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house
asthat it’s the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
Youcan direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here
foryou and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to
foreigncountries authority. DIPLOMATIC MRS.KERRY KEISTER My Benin Number
iswork here sometimes..+229-6656-7551
GET BACK TO ME IN MY EMAIL NOW; (mrs.kerrykeister@yahoo.com)
Receiver name. Onyibor Sunday
Country Benin Republic
City Cotonou
Amount $ 69 US Dollars
Text Question. Lord
Answer …. Jesus.
SENDER NAME....................
MTCN..................................
Your Home address.....................
and you Tell Number...................
because i dont want to do any mistake again.
amwaiting for the payment to able me meet up to forward it to
Onyibor Sunday in Benin to obtain the needed paper and forward it to me
today
Regard
Diplomatic Mrs.Kerry Keister I need your urgent respond now
|
Anti-fraud resources:
