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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. )
- 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: benoit duboscq <bntduboscq@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: bntduboscq@ymail.com
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:39:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Sad News:: Benoit Duboscq
I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,my family and i came down here to
Cardiff Wales for a short vacation to visit a resort and got mugged at
gun point last night at the park of the hotel where we lodged.All
cash,credit cards and cell were stolen off me.I've been to the embassy
and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all,our flight
leaves today and I'm having problems settling the hotel bills, we still
have some money in our account but we don't have access to it right from
here.
The hotel manager won't let us leave until i settle the hotel
bills($2500 USD)now am freaked out.Please reply and let me if you can
have the money wire to me through Western Union i promise to pay back as
soon as i get back home.
Write me so I can let you know how to send it.
Thanks.
Regards, Benoit
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