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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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.
- 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.
- anthonycarmelo65@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: anthonycarmelo@excellectual.com
Reply-To: anthonycarmelo.wu@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2015 04:55:28 +0100
Subject: Your Western Union Compensation Payment Sent Out To You Mtcn: 809 964 2940
We have sent you three emails containing the information for pick up, since the last two weeks but we did not get any reply from you, hence we are sending you this FINAL NOTIFICATION.
This email contains the senders name and also the MTCN. Please get this information and locate any western union office closest to you for immediate pick up, so as to enable us expedite action in sending another $5000.00 and finally arrange a bank transfer of the balance amount to your account.
Call or email me with the below details immediately you pick up this first payment.
Telephone: +234 708 545 1602
Email : anthonycarmelo65@yahoo.com
Mr. ANTHONY CARMELO
Manager/Head of Compensation
Here is the information for the first $5000.00 USD
Senders Name: Joan Bacon
Mtcn: 809 964 2940
Question: What For
Answer: Compensation
Amount: 5000.00 USD
I am waiting for your call and email once you pick up the $5000.00 USD
Thank You
Mrs. Sonia Fisher
Western Union Notification Dept (Nigeria)
Do contact ANTHONY CARMELO on
anthonycarmelo65@yahoo.com
© 2010 - 2015 Western Union Holdings, Inc., All Rights Reserved
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