|
|
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:
- 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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "million 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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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 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.
- atmmaster4@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jeh Charles Johnson " <WW.@sound.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Jeh Charles Johnson " <atmmaster4@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:46:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention:
Attention:
My name is Diplomatic Jeh Charles Johnson who will deliver your ATM CARD of
US$10.500.000.00 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Arizona United
State of American am here to inform you that a man came to custom office in this morning
name is John William he told custom that he is your Brother from your city
he said that you are dead.
Last week ago in a car accident on your way going to hospital see your doctor
and before your death you told him that you have an ATM CARD worth of $10.5
million dollars cost of $100.00 to receive the ATM CARD worth of $10.5 million and he
came with the $100.00 dollars for the activation fee of the ATM card to collect
it on your behalf right now at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
If real you are dead may your soul rest in perfect peace AMEN, but if you are
alive pl ease due call me or get get back to me with the $100.00 dollars
activation fee of the ATM CARD immediately with your home address today .
But if you are real alive but you not willing to send the $100;00 today receive
the ATM CARD of $10.5 million do not contact so we can give the ATM CARD of
$10.5 million to John William as your next of kin but if you alive willing to
receive the ATM CARD of $10.5 million use this information go western union
or money gram send the activated fee $100,00 forward MTCN number and your home address to
receive the ATM CARD of $10.5 million next 3 hours enable us arrested John
William as Fraud
Receiver Name.....Godwin Nnelue
Country...........Benin Republic
City............ Port-Novo
Text Question....Yes
Text Answer......Yes
Amount...........$100 usd
MTCN …..
Sender Name …..
Sender Country …..
If I did not hear from you today with the activation fee then I will collect
the $100.00 dollars activation fee from Mr John and hand the ATM card over to
him within 3
hours
Full Name...........
Your City...........
Your Home address...
Your Nearest Airport...
Your Phone No....
Do have a wonderful day if you are alive but if you are dead
may you soul rest in peace (AMEN)+229)99089730
Yours Faithfully
Eric ibe
E-mail (atmmaster4@gmail.com)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
