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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. )
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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 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.
- federalhighcourtbeninrepubli@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Federal High Court Benin Republic
<info@notiffication063.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <federalhighcourtbeninrepubli@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:32:17 +0530
Subject: Very Urgent,your to get back to us and claim your consignment
Dear this is Federal High Court benin republic we are please to notify to you and your good family that your consignment bas be in this Federal High Court department Office Benin Republic for long time now and your given advise in your own good to get back to us and claim your consignment by obtain the Ownership Certificate
No consignment or package leave this country without the Required Ownership certificate and the Ownership Certificate has be cut down to $88.00 so you should send the $88.000 to Federal high Court Office via
Email: (federalhighcourtbeninrepubli@yahoo.com) the shipping company today so that your consignment will be deliver to your given address
Below information is on how you can send the $88.00 through western union:
Receiving Country..................Benin Republic
Receiving City.......................Cotonou
Receiver Name...................MICHAEL NGOSINE OZOEMENA
Amount....................$88.00
Text Question................... $88.00
Answer.....................$88.00
Sender Name.....................
Mtcn............................
Your urgent attention will be appreciated before the gate given pass
Thanks
Mr. Eric Brown
Federal High Court Benin Republic
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