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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:
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (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.
- w.unionbenin1998@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.KOFFI LYLES" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w.unionbenin1998@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2012 00:05:58 -0700
Subject: CONTACT MBNA BANK OF AMERICAN,
WESTERN UNION LETTER OF GURANTEE TO THESE FUNDS OWNER.
Office Email (w.unionbenin1998@gmail.com)
Contact Person Mr Koffi Lyles.
The legal department on behalf of the entire company , western union money transfer,do hereby write to gurantee your interest on receiving your funds here that your woths prize money of $1.5million must be remitted into your bank account after we receive from the mandatory legal cost of the transfer fees or will be transferring here in this western union per a day $2,500 usd for the notorization of your wining file in the high court of justice.And bear in mind that our transfer fee to enable you receive pera day is $35 which you must get ready once you receive this letter to avoid any more delay on this transaction and start transfer your western union payment every day per the instruction from the high court of justice.
Here is the informations to make the payment through western union money transfer below:
RECEIVE NAME___MR.OSITA TONNY
NO:171 AKIL ROAD COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION::::::;; Almight
ANSWER::::::::::::: God
Amount:::::::::::::::$35
MTCN:::::::::::::::
This will enable this department file for the naturalization of your wining and obtain neccesary approval that will enable your funds to be transferres to you per a day and in the case of default in payment of your wining sut, the fees shall be your subject in return.The claims file shall be processed accordingly , and send to the designated pay out bank for transfer of your won sum of $1.5million usd it is further guaranteed that we shall handly with respect and confidentiallity entire information at our disposal .The management hereby confirms that this letter of guarantee is prepared under the right state of mind. we are also aware and conscious of the legal implication against the western union money transfer if we fail to abide by the contents therein.
Contact her with the below email address;
Person in-charge Mr.KOFFI LYLES
Tel :+229-66-866-237
Email:(w.unionbenin1998@gmail.com)
Regards
Mr.KOFFI LYLES.NEW DIRECTOR OF WESTERN UNION
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