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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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "HON. MR. MARK MORGAN." <pauljohn936@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: usembassys@helixnet.cn
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 16:20:25 +0800 (CST)
Subject: YOUR KIND ATTENTION
FROM
MR. MARK MORGAN. UNITED STATES AN OFFICIAL AGENT AMBASSADOR TO BENIN REPUBLIC/01
BP. 201 EMBASSY SUIT COTONOU,REPUBLIC DU BENIN.
GOOD DAY
MY NAME IS
MR. MARK MORGAN I WORKED AS AN OFFICIAL AGENT TO THE U.S EMBASSY FOR 15 YEARS
AND ALSO AN AMERICA CITIZEN.
IT SEEMS YOU ARE NOT
SERIOUS IN REGARD TO THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX ANYMORE I JUST
RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM THE AIRPORT CUSTOM DEPARTMENT IN REGARD TO THE DELAY
THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND THEY WILL RETURN YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX AND IT BACK UP
DOCUMENT PACKAGE TO THE FEDERAL FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS UNCLAIMED PACKAGE IF ANY
SIGN OF SERIOUSNESS IS NOT SHOWN.
I SENT AN UPDATE TO
THE F.B.I AGENT MR. ROBERT AND ALSO TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY AGENT MRS. JANET
AND I EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM.
THEY PROMISE TO
ASSIST AND MAKE SURE YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX IS SHIPPED ONCE THE REQUIRED CHARGE
FEE DELAYING THE SHIPMENT IS PAID WHICH IS $68 AND SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE THAT
SAME DAY VIA D.H.L EXPRESS DELIVERY WHICH WILL TAKE ONLY 24 OR 32 HOURS TO GET
THE CONSIGNMENT DELIVERED TO YOU.
D.H.L EXPRESS
DELIVERY SHIPPING FLIGHT WILL TAKE OFF TODAY BY 9:30PM SO YOU NEED TO ACT FAST
SO YOUR PACKAGE CAN BE SHIPPED TODAY.
NOTE: THE TOTAL
AMOUNT THE VISA CREDIT CARD CONTAIN IS $20 MILLION USD AND IT HAVE ACCESS TO
MAKE WITHDRAW AND TRANSACTION WORLD WIDE WITH IT SECURITY CODE PIN WHICH YOU
WILL USE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE
SPENT A LOT TOWARD THIS PACKAGE BUT YOU NEED TO ACT FAST SO YOU CAN REGAIN ALL
YOU HAVE SPENT MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO TRY YOUR BEST AND COME UP WITH THE $68 SO
EVERYTHING CAN BE DONE FAST TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR PACKAGE TODAY AND
THIS WILL BE THE LAST FEE I ASSURE YOU.
USE THE DETAILS
BELOW TO SEND THE $68 VIA WESTERN UNION SO THE CHARGE FEE CAN BE PAID TO ENABLE
THE SHIPMENT.
RECEIVER
NAME: EKWEALOR PETER
CITY: COTONOU
COUNTRY: BENIN
REPUBLIC
TEXT QUESTION: LAND
OF
ANSWER: HOPE
ONCE PAYMENT IS MADE
GET BACK TO ME WITH THE REQUIRED PAYMENT
CONFIRMATION DETAILS
LISTED BELOW.
SENDER
NAME:....?
MTCN NUMBER.....?
SENDER ADDRESS....?
FULL NAME:
HOME
ADDRESS:
TELL:
CELL:
CURRENT OCCUPATION:
INTERNATIONAL
PASSPORT/WORKING ID CARD.
REMEMBER THIS IS THE
ONLY FEE REQUIRED AND YOU NEED TO TRY YOUR BEST TO SEND THE FEE TO ENABLE
SHIPMENT TODAY OK.
AWAIT YOUR REPLY AND
THE REQUIRED PAYMENT CONFIRMATION
DETAILS.
YOURS
TRULY,
HON. MR. MARK MORGAN.
US OFFICIAL AGENT TO BENIN
REPUBLIC
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