|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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. )
- "info@cnoocc.net" (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: "CHINA NATIONAL OFFSHORE CORPORATION" <ccnooc@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: info@cnoocc.net
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 21:55:50 -0000 (UTC)
Subject:
CHINA NATIONAL OFFSHORE CORPORATION
Vacancies available : 32
Geographical position: USA
Earnings : 600-1000 $ weekly (for first test month)
Occupation: part-time (4-5 hours per WEEK)
Job description:
1. Receive payment from Clients
2. Cash Payments at your Bank
3. Deduct 10% which will be your percentage/pay on Payment processed.
4. Forward balance after deduction of percentage/pay to any of the
offices you will be contacted to send payment to(Payment is to forwarded
either by Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer ).
Important:
All these positions do not require any investment.
You don't have to pay for any books, tapes. NOTHING.
You only have to 'invest' your time and work to gather results.
Please if you are interested forward the following info to my email
address which is : info@cnoocc.net
First Name:
Last Name:
Full Address ( not p.o Box ):
City:
State:
Zip:
Personal Tel.no:
E-mail:
Additional information about yourself :
Job description:
1. Receive payment from Clients
2. Cash Payments at your Bank
3. Deduct 10% which will be your percentage/pay on Payment processed.
4. Forward balance after deduction of percentage/pay to any of the offices
you will be contacted to send payment to(Payment is to forwarded
either by Money Gram or Western Union Money Transfer or wire transfer
depending on the volume of money under transfer).
Cheng Wong
(Overseas affairs)
Tel:+815055329636
|
Anti-fraud resources:
