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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. )
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MICHEAL J.FISHER" <fbiword70@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "MICHEAL J.FISHER" <customsus33@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2015 20:16:54 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CONTACT US CUSTOM FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT DELIVER
Attention
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your affirmation and to inform
you of the latest development as regards the delivery of your BANK
DRAFT package by the Diplomat Hilary Kalu While scanning the
package,our cashtrac machine detected that the content of the package
the Diplomat is delivering to you is cash worth the sum of
Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
It is a crime to bring in money over USD10 000 into the United
States of America without proper documentations and clearance because
it shows that the money is either being smuggled into the country or
the source of the funds is questionable It is very important that all
the relevant documentations needed to authenticate the source of the
funds are provided to prove that the funds were earned legitimately in
accordance with the PATRIOT ACT so that the FBI,IRS and Homeland
Security will not come knocking at your door In lieu of the above It
is therefore mandatory that you provide the Origin of Funds
Certificate O O F to prove that the funds have no links with any
form of illegality
Being the beneficiary of the package,the Origin of Funds
Certificate O O F is the only way of confirming the source of the
funds and it is our responsibility to provide the Certificate before
the Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery To You Tomorrow.
The Diplomat s Flight Details shows that he came from Benin Republic
and we have contacted the relevant Authorities in that country to
enquirer about the process of getting the Certificate
The clearance charges which was initially on the high price has been
cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor
economic situations that made it difficult for the middle class
citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement. We will
upon the confirmation of your clearing papers assign the Diplomatic
Agent Diplomat Hilary Kalu to proceed with the onward delivery to
you
We were informed that the beneficiary of the package will pay for the
Certificate and the cost of this documentation USD38 You have
to pay this fee directly to them in Benin Republic via Western Union
Money Transfer in the name stated below
Receiver Name Hope Alive
Country Benin Republic
City Port Novo
Text Question When
Answer Today
Amount USD38
Upon the receipt of the payment information,the Certificate will be
made out in your name by the Cotonou Republic Du Benin Authority
scanned and send immediately via fax Machine to us so that the
Diplomat will be allowed to complete the delivery of your package to
you tomorrow Failure to pay for this documentation is a confirmation
that you wanted to smuggle the funds into the country which is a
federal offence and a gross violation of the Patriot Act
It is therefore in your best interest that you pay for the Certificate
as instructed immediately as the consequences of refusing is very
severe
Yours Faithfully,
MICHEAL J.FISHER
Call online +12149976275 or Text me message as soon as you receiver mail
A G Commissioner of US Customs
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