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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "you have to be fast" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: DON JULIUS <o.file123456789@gmail.com>
Reply-To: DON JULIUS <diplomartdonjulius@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 20:28:40 +0900 (JST)
Subject: CALL DIPLOMAT DON JULIUS TO DELIVERY YOUR ATM CARD WORTH $16.5 MILLION DOLLARS NOW
Dear Customer,
My name is Mr. Don Julius, Born in Ghana and currently working as a special and
International Diplomat of the U.S Embassy Cotonou Benin Republic West Africa .
All the legal back up papers to prove to the Palm Springs
International Airport Authority here
that your fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money has being presented
and handed over to the Palm Springs International Airport Authority and they
are very much pleased with the papers.
The package contain an ATM Visa Card worth USD$16.5 Million
and your daily limit withdrawal is USD$12,000.00 per day and can be used to
make transaction locally and internationally as I was informed by the UBA Bank
PLC Porto Novo Benin republic.
The sum of $255.00 is required to secure clearance
certificate from the origin of your ATM visa card so that the Custom Security
Department here in PSP Palm Springs
International Airport CALIFORNIA will
allow me in to come and make the delivery to your home address as I was
mandated before I left Africa. The fee needed to be paid before the delivery of
your ATM visa card parcel will commence.
So try your best and send the charge fee today delay is not
allowed or else the package will be returned back and marked as unclaimed. Use
the details below to send the required charge fee US$255.00 to the
Benin-Customs-Service via Western Union or
money gram Money Transfer to enable the delivery success.
Receiver Name: Julius Eze
Address: 44/C Apkapka BP Godome 70889 Porto
Novo Benin Rep.
City Location: Porto Novo
Country: Benin Republic
Text Question: How Long?
Answer: 24 Hours
Amount: USD $255.00
MTCN:
Sender:
Sender Country:
I await your reply with the payment confirmation details so
I can forward the wire information to Benin-Customs-Service so they can issue
the needed certificate in your name and send it to me here in PSP Airport , so
the airport Authority here in Palm Springs International Airport will allow me
in to make the delivery to your home address as scheduled, so they can allow me
to connect my flight to your state airport and send you my flight details to
you so that we will meet at the airport.
You have to be fast please in sending the needed US$255.00
to enable me join the next available flight to your state airport today and
make the delivery to you. Call me on this telephone number 213 908 2713
Yours in Services,
Diplomat Mr. Don Julius
Telephone: 213 908 2713
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