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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Arden Hassam" <fservice75@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: sky_courier123@live.com
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:18:53 -0400
Subject: SKY COURIER COMPANY
Hello My Dear,
This is to bring to your notice that your ATM package valued $2.5m usd has
been deposited in SKY COURIER COMPANY on 22/12/2011. So Contact them
immediately with your delivery address and phone number.
Here is their contact information below;
SKY COURIER OFFICE
NO.1222 IDUROCO ROAD,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
CONTACT PERSON:DR.MICHAEL WALTER
PHONE:+229 98 296 532
E-MAIL: sky_courier123@live.com
Note: i have paid the delivery fee and the only fee you will pay is $85usd
which is for their Security keeping fee, Therefore you should send the keeping
fee to them with their Cashier Name below:
Here is where to send the money through Western Union Or Money Gram for easier
picking up the money to enable them commence the delivery immediately to your
destination.
Receivers Name ..................Osita D. Nwaofia
Country.............Benin Republic
City ................Cotonou
zip Code..............00229
Text Qestion.........In God?
Answer................We Trust
Amount................$85
Thefore after sending the money today try to notify them with the payment
details for immediate notification.
Thanks,
MR.Arden Hassam
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