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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "pack_martin@hotmail.fr" <pack_martin@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: cardatm270@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:40:18 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT OFFICE COTONOU BENIN
CODE NUMBER: ATM 0411
INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC BENIN
INTERNATIONAL Plaza Danmole Street
Off Adeola Odeku/Idejo Street PMB 80150
cross Island COTONOU-BENIN
Telex: 25645, 25212 ICBANK
Attention;
With regards to your draft deposited in our bank , we wish to inform you that instructions was passed to our bank to effect on ward payment to you through our ATM Card payment system. We here by gives you assurance that your card is very legit and you can withdraw your fund in any ATM MACHINES around the globe. We will give a new PIN/ACCESS code which you can use to access your card at any time. We tried to call you but unfortunately we lost your phone number.So you can call us as soon as you received this mail +229 68234424
Be inform that you are going to pay the sum of $60.00 for a reactivation fee of your atm card. Your partner told us that you will send the money to us as soon as you contacted us. we have informed our attorney about this so we are right now waiting for you to send the amount of $60.00 dollars today to enable us send your atm card to your address.Send the money via western union money transfer with this information below.
Receiver's name: igbanu chikeluo
City: Cotonou,
Country: Benin Republic
Text Q: good?
Answer: news
Amount; $60.00
Mtcn
Sender's name
Send the money via western union money transfer and forward the payment informations to us for easier pick up. We will forward the tracking number of your atm card as soon as we got everything done.You can call me with this number +229 68234424
Please remember to fill this gaps below to avoid any mistake once you send the $60.00 ok.
1. Full Name
2. Your Country
3.Your city
4.Your home address were you want them to send the ATM card
5. Phone number (private)
6. Your age and current occupation
Thanks and God bless you as awaiting for your urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Johnson Henry,
Tel; +229-68234424
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