|
|
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:
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "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: Mr jackson <WWW.@smile.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr jackson <atmcardcenterdepartment@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 10:23:42 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Text or Call +2299-99082659
How are you today?
I am Mr. jackson and I am written to inform you about your
ATM MASTER CARD. brought by the United Embassy from the government of Benin
Republic in our office atmcard center department which contains the sum of
$4.000.000 millions us dollars credited from the bank of America, the
delivery of your funds has been mandated to be deliver to your address on
January 26th, 2016 to you as soon as you get back to me with your home
address and your cell phone number.
Bear in mind that I have taking my time to be in charge of your funds as
instructed by
atmcard center department manager
to ensure that you received your funds successfully
from atmcard center department office to reduce the economy and I'm the only one that has
your funds in regard to our office manager Johnson Ibe.
now you have to pay the sum of $100 usdoller only
before your ATM MASTER CARD. will deliver to you on January 26th, 2016, the
reason why the fee is required is to have your funds clearance paper from
the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the authority and you
are also expecting to be announce as winner of the said amount by January 26th,
2016 as soon as your fund is delivered to you.
So you are urgently advised to get back to me with your home address and also
the payment information today for immediate effect of your delivery. Note
that the $100 usdoller is the only fee that is required for you to have your funds.
Please I will advise you to urgently make the payment this morning via western
union or money gram money transfer to the listed cashier information as
instructed you by the originated authority. I will look forward to received
your email today with the payment to enable the origin secure the required
clearance papers needed at atmcard center department office to deliver your funds. Note
that it will take only 14hrs to deliver your ATM MASTER CARD in receipt of the $100 usdoller payment.
Receiver Name::::::: EMMANUEL UBA
Country:::::::::::::Benin Republic
City::::::::::::::: Cotonou
Amount::::::::::::: $100 MTCN
reference number:::::
Sender Name::::::::::::::
Sender's Telephone:::::
Sender's Address:::::::
|
Anti-fraud resources:
