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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "lagos" (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.
- westernunion.office09@yahoo.com.ph (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Gorge Moore J." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion.office09@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 01:56:34 +0800
Subject: THIS IS OPPORTUNITY FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR YOU TO PICK UP THE FUND ONCE YOU COMPLY.
Western Union Send Money Worldwide
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer office Lagos Nigeria.
ADDRESS: 17, BP OPPOSITE POST OFFICE Lagos Nigeria.
Website: www.westernunion.com PHONE(+234-8154-890-183.)
(westernunion.office09@yahoo.com.ph )
Dear Costumer Email alert:
The Western Union Money Transfer Service Lagos Nigeria headquarters wishes to inform you that our government has paid part of the fees needed for the final release of your funds $650,000.00USD to you this month through our Western Union Office here in Lagos Nigeria to avoid you sending much money to African scam again.
And for your information the maximum amount you will be receiving started from tomorrow is $5000 USD till your total funds of $650,000.00USD is complete transferred to you and we have been strongly to send you the first payment of $5000USD today through our payment system here before we find out that your payment file need to renew from world Bank central system. And we listed bellow for your first payment of $5000usd been sent in your name today this morning but you will not pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$270.00 require to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank Central System here in lagos Nigeria.
Bellow is your first payment for $5000usd sent today.
Sender Name: Jason Callahan
MTCN: 0741370142.
Question= What Color
Answer= White
Amount Sent: $5000.00
So if you want to track the money online and confirm if the funds is transferred enter our website https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global then click tracking and enter the MTCN Number?( 0741370142 ) Enter senders first Name? Jason.Enter senders last Name: Callahan and click tracking and it will show you that your funds is available for you to pick it up.
Final urgent in sending us the $270.00usd to enable us proceed on reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank central SYSTEM .Send the fee directly with the name as outline below use it to send the money via western union to enable us pick it from our department here and reconfirm your payment file approval from the world Bank central and commerce your daily payment immediately.we also repeat again, you will not pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$270 require to renew and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank Central System in Lagos Nigeria.
So if you would prefer to start receiving your payment first thing tomorrow in the morning hurry up and send the renew and reconfirmation of your payment file fees $270usd with bellow information via western union money transfer service.
Receiver Name: Salam Isi
Country: Lagos Nigeria
Text Question: When?
Answer: Today
Amount: $270usd
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) is needed and sender's name
Finally Notice: This payment you are receiving is coming directly from World Bank assistance programmable 2013 promo, so its risk free and we the western union headquarters has agree to start sending you the payment immediately you meet up with our demand in this latter. But after 2days you did not reply stand the risk of cancel your payment and have it return back to government
Yours respectfully,Dr Gorge Moore J.
Email; ( westernunion.office09@yahoo.com.ph )
+234-8154-890-183. Director Western Union Payments
CALL ME ONCE AGAIN FOR MORE ADVICE INFORMATION: +234-8154-890-183.
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