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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:
- 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: MOHAMMED BELLO <mohammedbello16@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2012 10:59:04 -0800
Subject: VERY URGENT PLEASE.
I WANT YOU TO SEND TO ME THE WESTERN UNION RECEIPT IF YOU DID SEND THE
US$150 COURIER FEES AS YOU CLAIMED AND AS WELL SEND TO ME YOUR RECEIVING
ADDRESS WHERE YOUR ATM CARD WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU,WHO SEND THE MONEY AND
WHAT S THE MTCN NUMBERS?BECAUSE THE ONE YOU GAVE ME IS NOT IN THE WESTERN
UNION SYSTEM,AND IF YOU HAVE NOT SEND IT YOU GO AND DO THAT BY SENDING IT
WITH THE NAME I GAVE YOU EARLIER BOB OLISA AND FURNISH ME WITH THE WESTERN
UNION DETAILS IMMEDIATELY.
FINALLY IF YOU HAVE THE RECEIPT OF THE WESTERN UNION SEND IT TO ME BY
ATTACHMENT SO THAT I WILL CONFIRM THE INFORMATION AS YOU CLAIMED TO ENABLE
THE RECEIVER PICK IT FROM WESTERN UNION TOMORROW.
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Anti-fraud resources: