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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:
- "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 service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "mrjosephchukwurah@ymail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "mrjosephchukwurah@ymail.com" (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.
- 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: Terry Mokwe <mrgodsonwisdom1@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: mrjosephchukwurah@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 22 May 2012 10:58:33 +0100 (BST)
Subject: REPLY URGENT
Attention Sir/Madam
we wish to notify you that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has been in contact with the World Bank yesterday to verify the legality of your transaction and every documentations and bank deposit statements were forwarded to them for investigation and confirmation.
We strongly believe that you shall be hearing back from them as soon as this transaction is confirmed by them FBI .
Sequel to this effect, Your ATM DEBIT CARD has been Successfully Loaded with a part payment of your Inheritance/Contract/Lottery Winning Funds Valued at the sum of $10.5M USD ( Ten Million, Five Hundred United States Dollars),
However an Instruction was passed over to this office from the office of the chairman African Union on financial matters that the funds which has been loaded into your ATM DEBIT CARD should not be tampered with by any governmental official since it has been approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Department of the United States that the exact funds Must be Delivered to your designated address via the FedEx Courier Service without any deduction made on it.
The FBI and the African union have agreed to have the card delivered to you through no other means than FedEx and the instruction for the delivery is stated below as you are advised to read carefully.
(FedEx DELIVERY)
Approved Mailing cost$65.00
Insurance by IRS $0
Vat charge $18.00
TOTAL$83.00
Be informed that your ATM DEBIT Card is Already Activated and ready for delivery to your Designated home address but the only delay is the cost that is associated to the delivery by FedEx which you are expected to send via western union/Money Gram money transfer today to our accounting officer,I will provide you with the receiver details as soon as i hear from you.
Do reconfirm urgently the following information so that we can serve you better:
1.Your full name :..................
2. contact Address:.................
3.mobile telephone numbers:............
On the receipt of the USD$83.00 Dollars delivery cost will enable Your ATM DEBIT CARD be sent to you via FedEx courier service with the Tracking/Confirmation Numbers sent to you via E-mail so that you can monitor the arrival of the card to your designated home address.
You are hereby advised to make the Payment for the Delivery of Your ATM DEBIT CARD as soon as you receive this email to the listed Payment Information which has been provided to you above.Contact us on this E_mail (mrjosephchukwurah@ymail.com) and Call me immediately soon as you are back from making the payment today.
E_mail (mrjosephchukwurah@ymail.com)
Terry Mokwe
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