|
|
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:
- 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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Adamu <patriciasanto90@gmail.com>
Reply-To: adamudamu1@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 18:50:50 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION:CUSTOMER
ATTENTION:CUSTOMER
THIS LETTER WILL BE AMAZING TO YOU BECAUSE OF ITS REALISTIC
VALUE.SORRY FOR THE DELAY AND INCONVENIENCES THAT WAS RENDERED TO YOU
IN YOUR LINE OF INHERITANCE PAYMENT TRANSACTION WITH SOME AFRICAN
BANKS/OFFICES SOME WHILE AGO.
I AM MR ADAMU. FROM UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA,WESTERN UNION DEPARTMENT
BENIN REPUBLIC I WAS DIRECTED TO INFORM YOU THAT AFTER THE BRIEF
MEETING HELD IN THIS WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC WITH MANAGEMENT
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGARDING YOUR TRANSFER
PAYMENT THE MANAGEMENT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA AND BORD OF DIRECTORS
NATION WIDE DECIDED TO EFFECT YOUR PAYMENT DIRECT FROM UNITED BANK
FOR AFRICA WESTERN UNION BENIN REPUBLIC TO YOU BY DAILY RECEIVING OF
$USD5000 DOLLARS DAILY UNTIL YOUR PAYMENT IS COMPLETED.
HERE IS THE MTCN NUMBERS (222-401-2480) OF THE FIRST $5000 DOLLARS WE
SENT TO YOU TODAY THEREFORE RECONFIRM YOUR RECEIVING INFORMATION BELOW
BEFORE BEFORE THE RELEASE OF THE REMAINING INFORMATIONS TO ENABLE YOU
PICK UP THE PAYMENT URGENTLY TO AVOID ERROR SO THAT WE CAN TRANSFER
ANOTHER PAYMENT OF $5000 DOLLARS BY TOMORROW AS YOU KNOW WE WILL BE
TRANSFERING ONLY $5000 DOLLARS DAILY UNTIL YOUR PAYMENT IS COMPLETED
WARNNING YOUR PAYMENT DOES NOT PERMITTED TO STAY MORE THAN 72 HOURS
ONLINE WITHOUT PICKING UP THE PAYMENT TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF PAYMENT.
1.YOUR FULL NAME...................................
2.YOUR COUNTRY........................................
3.YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER................
4.YOUR OCCUPATION...................................
5.YOUR AGE.......................................................
6.YOUR SEX..........................................................
THANKS
MR ADAMU.
SECRETARY UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
WESTERN UNION.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
