|
|
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:
- 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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- 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: IMF <boabb_plc@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: imf1947@live.com
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:41:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: RESPOND BACK IMMEDIATELY AS YOUR RESPONSE NOW IS HIGHLY REQUIRED.
IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.
FROM THE DESK OF: HONORABLE MRS. MOJI ABU. DIRECTOR; IMF World Regulatory Office.
ATTENTION:PROVISION
OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM CERTIFICATE FOR LEGAL COVER/ PROTECTION OF
US$6.5M IN FAVOR OF YOU GOOD MORNING TO YOU AND HOW WAS YOUR
WEEKEND?PLEASE DURING OUR RESUMPTION MEETING THIS MORNING TO COMMENCE
THE WEEK A LADY BY NAME MRS. OTE OCHA WORKED INTO OUR OFFICE CRYING WITH
TEARS ALL OVER HER SAYING AND CONFIRMING TO US THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND
THAT SHE IS YOUR NEXT OF KIN AND THAT WE SHOULD PAY HER ALL YOUR
ENTITLEMENT AND ALL THAT BELONGS TO YOU WHICH WE ARE ABOUT TO DO NOW DUE
TO HER PATHETIC AND PITIABLE STORY TO US THIS MORNING.
AND IN OTHER TO
BE ON THE SAFE SIDE AND TO AVOID ANY MISTAKES THIS E-MAIL IS COMING TO
YOU AND THE QUESTION THAT ARISES IS THIS.ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? THIS IS
BECAUSE AFTER THE MEETING THIS MORNING IT WAS RESOLVED THAT ALL FEE BE
WAIVED EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSFER PIN CODE CHARGE.
YOUR TRANSFER
PIN CODE WILL ONLY COST YOU THE SUM OF $100, WHICH IS THE ONLY FEE YOU
MUST PAY IN OTHER TO ENSURE YOUR FUND IS TRANSFERRED INTO ANY BANK
ACCOUNT WHICH YOU SO DESIRE.IF YOU ARE ALIVE THEN WE WILL IMMEDIATELY
RECEIVE AN INSTANT RESPONSE FROM YOU ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED PAYMENT
DETAILS OF THE $100 NOW SO YOUR FUND IS PAID OUT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.SO
WE ADVICE YOU TO PAY THE $100 WHICH IS FOR THE TRANSFER PIN CODE CHARGES
THROUGH THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER
THAT IS NEAREST TO YOU TO THE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND BACK THE
PAYMENT DETAILS TO THIS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
RECEIVERS NAME: IWUNOR PAUL
RECEIVERS ADDRESS: LAGOS STATE / NIGERIA
SENDERS NAME:
SENDERS ADDRESS:
TEXT QUESTION: STILL
TEXT ANSWER: ALIVE
AMOUNT: $100
M.T.C.N NUMBER:
PLEASE GO AND
SEND IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEND TO ME THE PAYMENT DETAILS IMMEDIATELY.WE
ARE VERY SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCES THIS MUST HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU IN
ANY WAY.WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU AS OUR WORD IS OUR BOND TO YOU.CONFIRM
THE RECEIPT OF THIS E-MAIL BY YOU IMMEDIATELY AND BE REST ASSURED THAT
YOU WILL BE SMILING TO YOUR BANK ONCE YOU COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE
DIRECTIVES NOW.
RESPOND BACK IMMEDIATELY AS YOUR RESPONSE NOW IS HIGHLY REQUIRED.
MRS. MOJI ABU
|
Anti-fraud resources:
