|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- 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: western union <wuwesternunion942@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2011 14:25:36 +0000
Subject: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
DIRECTOR JAMES SOLOMON
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
W.U.G.T/GHANA/TOGO
BRANCH
My name is James Solomon from South Africa to Ghana/Togo Western
Union Branch Directorial, now resident in Ghana Accra . I am a citizen of
South Africa . The new Principle Controller of Western Union in West
Africa, I want you to know that we about to make transfer to you which is
$3.9 MILLION U.S dollars bit by bit and before you can receive this money
without any miss of understanding the (UN and the AU chairman) have to sign
your transfer list to make sure that this funds get directly to you because
this is the first time you are about to receiving from us .
And this is one of the reason you have never receive from us because the
UN and the AU chairman have never sign your transfer list and for the UN and
the AU chairman to sign your transfer it will cost you some $120 Dollars
only
receiver Name ............OKPAKO ADAM
country..................... .Accra Ghana
test Question .............WHAT FOR
test Answer................TRANSFER
month ........................$120
mtcn.......................
sender Name.............
Secondly you are also advice to send across four Name for you to receive
your western union cash-able information then you can move down to any of
our western union office in your location to cash your funds immediately
I look forward to hear as soon as you receive our e-mail to enable us
proceed on your funds transfer.
Thanks
Dr James Solomon
Principle Controller of Western Union in West Africa
Direct Number +233 5497 81220
|
Anti-fraud resources:
