|
|
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:
- 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. )
- "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.
- imf20.imfoffice_info2013@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Franklin James <franklin.james48@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2013 09:40:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello: Beneficiary, reply for this final notice: Reply to our private E-mail: imf20.imfoffice_info2013@yahoo.com
Date: 10/07/2013
Hello: Beneficiary, reply for this final notice: Reply to our private E-mail: imf20.imfoffice_info2013@yahoo.com
Â
How
are you? Please, I want to hear from you to know whether you still
remember your funds have been called back to my office IMF this mount
because you were unable to receive it since, so I wish to hear from you
to know if you still want to claim this money $10.8M or have you will it
away to somebody else or have you forsaken the claim? Any answer from
you will be my guideline towards this payment. The new method this IMF
want to apply to get your funds to you are (3) options below .Each with
its own fee and its left for you to choose, and then reconfirm your
information to avoid wrong delivery.
Â
1) ATM card delivery.....$106 total fee until it gets to you with pin code.
2) Western union payments fee....$105 and you will be receiving $4500 per day
3) Cash delivery or wire transfer......$125
Â
And please my dear you are to reconfirm your information as listed below to avoid sending this fund to a wrong person:
Â
Your full name===============
You’re Country===============
Home or office address========
Your Home or office Tel =========
Age and occupation============
Below
is information where to send the fee you choose immediately: as this
will be the only and last fee or charge to be pay and receive your fund.
Â
Receiver name..... Johnson Eze James
Country...........Benin republic
City..............cotonou
Tex question................AA
Tex answer................BB
M.T.C.N....................
Amount..................$
Â
I
wait your answer urgent asap and if we don't hear from you after 24 hrs
we will consider that you have forfeited or willed away your funds
thank you.
Â
Mrs. Marry Ngozi
IMF DIRECTOR
Tel: +229-976-128-29
E-mail: imfoffice_info2013.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
