|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "abuja" (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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- barry-benson.boa@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Rufus Bischoff" <julie@moov.mg>
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:55:46 -0400
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?=95 Hello!!!_Good_News!!!?=
• Hello!!! Good News!!!
• Your inherited $1.5m payment have been approved by CBN to our UBA
Branch here in Abuja the Federal Capital of Nigeria.
• No minimum amount for transfer however the initial transaction is
subject to a maximum of USD2000, while the maximum limit per transaction
is USD7, 500 the total of which must not exceed USD 50,000 on a daily
basis.
• There are no charges to the beneficiaries except each activation fee
which is affordable to even the poor.
Your Benefits
• Affordable – The service is cheaper and speedy than all other
comparable remittance services in Nigeria.
• Beneficiaries can be credited in approximately 1 hrs depending on
time of initiation of the transaction.
• Transparency – Allows Beneficiaries to calculate their fees receive
transfer notifications and track transactions online.
• Added Value – Allows Beneficiaries to take advantage of our loyalty
scheme and such services as standing instructions.
• Everybody receiving legitimate overseas inflows
Requirements
All receivers of Western Union or Money Gram transfers are required to
provide the following information:
• A duly completed receivers form with the information below
• 1. A Next of Kin name
• 2. Receiver's name & country of origin
• 3. Receiver's name, address and telephone number
• 4. Valid means of identification & activation fee
• 5. Test question and answer
For Enquiry & to receive your fund ($1.5m) Contact Mr. Barry Benson
Email: barry-benson.boa@accountant.com
Phone:(+234) 7065778496
I am Mr. Rufus Bischoff, UBA information minister & we wish to serve you
best,
Terms & Conditions/Privacy Policy / © 2014. All Rights Reserved
|
Anti-fraud resources:
