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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:
- "moneygram" (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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- dianabrut@mynet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DIANA BRUIT" <diana@moneygram.com>
Reply-To: <dianabrut@mynet.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 21:27:26 +0300
Subject: VICTIMS!!!!
FOR YOUR ATTENTION:VICTIMS
This is to officially informed you that Your name was among the 2011 scam Victims Database and this has proves that you have been swindled by those fraudlent 419 element in course of getting your over due fund,
After the final resolution, a meeting was held between the Board of Directors of The Federal Ministry Of Finance , and the international Reguratory on(13/02/2012),it was agreed that every Scam Victims should be compensated.out of the funds that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the international Reguratory has mapped out for 2012 compensation fund to everyone who have by one way or the other send money to fraudsters in Africa/Europian countries precisely.
We have deposited your fund with the Global instant Money transfer services (MONEYGRAM)Only,This special arrangement is being used to avoid all demands by both the states and federal authorities that have previously delayed your payment till date,we shall need your maximum co-operation to ensure that confidence is maintained to avoid any further delays
Contact the Authorized MONEY GRAM Agent for immediate programing of your compensation fund with details bellow.
Name:Mrs.Diana Bruit
Email: dianabrut@mynet.com
*Fill your details below for reference purposes
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