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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:
- 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. )
- 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: Miss Caroline Philip <kimudaiti@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: Miss Caroline Philip <fmf201441@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 20:59:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Contact Person;Dr John Duke
Attention the owner of this email
This is to inform you that your compensation funds of $3.8m credited in the file (#TSB/2014/BXGP/DBN),has been approved to be Paying to you by western union Money Transfer at the rate of $11,000, $5,500.00 everyday in each transaction until you received your complete compensation fund above.
This payment was Mandated by the presidency in conjunction with the Federal Ministry Of Finance Republic Du Benin after the meeting held on October 10th 2014 as all the Delivery company and banks transfer has been failed.
Now contact the office,federal ministry of finance In charge of your fund, Dr.John Duke The Director and ask them to renew your payment file and start sending your money to you. Below is the contact info of the ministry of finance.
Contact Person;Dr John Duke
You have to contact him now with your personal infos as follows;
1) FULL NAME :
(2) ADDRESS:
(3) COUNTRY :
(4) PRIVATE TEL:
(5) MOBILE PHONE
(6) PRIVATE EMAIL:
(7)YOUR FILE NO;
Yours faithfully.
Miss Caroline Philip
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Anti-fraud resources: