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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:
- "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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "customoffice@yahoo.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: CUSTOM OFFICE <lindawilliam044@superposta.com>
Reply-To: customoffice@yahoo.cn
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:18:01 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ATTENTTION:CONSIGNMENT BOX BENEFICIARY
DIRECTOR OFFICE IN
CHARGE.
DR. GEORGE H. BOBBY.
ATTENTTION:CONSIGNMENT BOX BENEFICIARY
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU ABOUT YOUR PACKAGE HERE THAT
WAS CONFISCATED BY THIS US CUSTOM OFFICE IN FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
ALASKA (USA)
YOUR PACKAGE IS
HERE FOR LONGTIME NOW DUE TO YOUR DELAY AFTER THE DIPLOMAT AGENT ARRIVE FROM
AFRICAN WITH THE CONSIGNMENT BOX WORTHS OF $1.5 MillionUSD AND WE ARE TO GIVE
YOU 12 HOURS FOR YOU TO GET ALL YOUR CLEARANCE PAPER WORKS OUT, WITH THE AMOUNT
OF $100 DOLLARS ONLY,
WE NEED IT AT THE
OFFICE BEFORE THIS HOURS OR THE CONSIGNMENT BOX WILL BE SEIZED AGAIN FOR THE
FINAL DIVERTION BY GOVERNMENT OF USA AT FLORIDA HERE AND YOU WILL LOSE THE
CONSIGNMENT BESIDES NO CONSIGNMENT BOX LEAVES THE INTERNATIONAL AIR PORT WITH
OUT OUR NEEDED CUSTOMS CLEARANCE CERTIFCATE WHICH COST ONLY $100 BECAUSE
SOMETIME AGO NOW THE DIPLOMAT HAVE BEEN EMAILING YOU TO SEND US OUR CLEARANCE
CERTIFCATEB FEES BUT YOU KEEP ON DELAYING THEN WE ADVICE AGAIN IF YOU MISS THIS
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT MEANS IT WILL BEVERY HARD FOR YOU TO GET THIS
CONSIGNMENT AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN WE NEED YOUR ANXIOUS MAIL DIRECT TO THIS US CUSTOM
OFFICE BEFORE THIS HOURS FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO LEAVE THIS AIR PORT TO YOUR
LOCATION.
You can direct
the CLEARANCE CERTIFCATE fees to our Head Office in inland revenue service in
benin republic as the origin of your consignment box and they will get it obtain
to enable the U.S custom release this man diplomat agent to your destination and
they are entitled to receive any payment to foreign countries and also NOTE that
the require payment of $100 shall sent to USA here for security reason so that
we can forward .to the inland revenue service in Benin Republic as the
originator of your consignment box
Receiver:Onyekwe
John
City:
Cotonou,
Country: Benin Republic.
Test: For
what?
Answer: Colour.
Sender
Blue
Amount $100
Mtcn
No#.....
CONTACT US BACK
ON THIS E-MAIL (customoffice@yahoo.cn)
BEST
REGARDS
DR. GEORGE H.
BOBBY
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