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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- jamesawele54@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR.JAMES AWELE <atmdelivery1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: jamesawele54@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sat, 07 Apr 2012 07:09:21 -0400
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MR.JAMES AWELE SENIOR OFFICIAL AGENT U.S EMBASSY NIGERIA.
FROM THE DESK OF MR.JAMES AWELE SENIOR OFFICIAL AGENT U.S EMBASSY NIGERIA.
MY NAME IS MR.JAMES AWELE I WORKED AS AN OFFICIAL AGENT TO THE U.S EMBASSY FOR 15 YEARS AND ALSO AN AMERICA CITIZEN.PHONE:234-7081264123
IT SEEMS YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS IN REGARD TO THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD PACKAGE ANYMORE I JUST RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM THE AIRPORT CUSTOM DEPARTMENT IN REGARD TO THE DELAY THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND THEY WILL RETURN YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD AND IT BACK UP DOCUMENT PACKAGE TO THE FEDERAL FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS UNCLAIMED PACKAGE IF ANY SIGN OF SERIOUSNESS IS NOT SHOWN.
I SENT AN UPDATE TO THE F.B.I AGENT MR. ROBERT AND ALSO TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY AGENT MRS. JANET AND I EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM.
THEY PROMISE TO ASSIST AND MAKE SURE YOUR PACKAGE IS SHIPPED ONCE THE REQUIRED CHARGE FEE DELAYING THE SHIPMENT IS PAID WHICH IS $105 AND SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE THAT SAME DAY VIA D.H.L EXPRESS DELIVERY WHICH WILL TAKE ONLY 24 OR 32 HOURS TO GET THE PACKAGE DELIVERED TO YOU.
D.H.L EXPRESS DELIVERY SHIPPING FLIGHT WILL TAKE OFF TODAY BY 9:30PM SO YOU NEED TO ACT FAST SO YOUR PACKAGE CAN BE SHIPPED TODAY.
NOTE: THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE VISA CREDIT CARD CONTAIN IS $10 MILLION USD AND IT HAVE ACCESS TO MAKE WITHDRAW AND TRANSACTION WORLD WIDE WITH IT SECURITY CODE PIN WHICH YOU WILL USE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SPENT A LOT TOWARD THIS PACKAGE BUT YOU NEED TO ACT FAST SO YOU CAN REGAIN ALL YOU HAVE SPENT MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO TRY YOUR BEST AND COME UP WITH THE $105 SO EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE FAST TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR PACKAGE TODAY AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST FEE I ASSURE YOU.
USE THE DETAILS BELOW TO SEND THE $105 VIA WESTERN UNION SO THE CHARGE FEE CAN BE PAID TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT.THE NAME IS MR.ARINZE JUSTINE IS MY SECRETARY.
RECEIVER NAME: MR.ARINZE JUSTINE
STATE: LAGOS
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION:YOU
ANSWER: GOD
ONCE PAYMENT IS MADE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE REQUIRED PAYMENT CONFIRMATION DETAILS LISTED BELOW.
SENDER NAME:....?
MTCN NUMBER.....?
SENDER ADDRESS....?
REMEMBER THIS IS THE ONLY FEE REQUIRED AND YOU NEED TO TRY YOUR BEST TO SEND THE FEE TO ENABLE SHIPMENT TODAY OK.CONTACT ADDRESS jamesawele54@yahoo.com.au
AWAIT YOUR REPLY AND THE REQUIRED PAYMENT CONFIRMATION DETAILS.
Full name______________________________________
Full address___________________________________
Telephone Number_________________Fax Number
MR.JAMES AWELE
EMAIL:SENIOR OFFICIAL AGENT U.S EMBASSY NIGERIA.
PHONE:234-7081264123
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