|
|
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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "POST OFFICE BENIN" <government.benin@list.ru>
Reply-To: post02@waterquan.com
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2016 16:48:30 +0600
Subject: FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN. POST OFFICE ADDRESS:
BARNES ROAD P.O BOX12720. COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN.
POST OFFICE ADDRESS: BARNES ROAD P.O BOX12720.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
CONTCAT E-MAIL==post02@waterquan.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER +229-68584286
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS AN ATM CARD IN THIS OFFICE THAT IS
DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BODY ON THE 22th OF THIS MONTH. YOUR
E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT AND IS TO BE POSTED TO YOU. WE HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR CONFIRMABLE ATM CARD WHICH CONTAINS
THE SUM OF $4.8Millions UNITED STATE DOLLARS AND SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS.
SO KINDLY GET BACK TO THIS OFFICE (REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN
REPUBLIC) TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS SERVICE. YOU ARE TO
CONFIRM AND PROVIDE TO US YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS BELOW.
YOUR FULL NAME=========
YOUR COUNTRY========
YOUR CITY=========
YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS=======
YOUR DIRECT PHONE=====
Your Passport=====
Your Email Address======
NOTE: THAT YOU ARE TO PAY FOR THE STAMP DUTY FEE OF $108 USD .YOU ARE
ADVISE TO SEND THE DUTY STAMP FEE THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO THE POST OFFICE
WITH THE OUR CLARICAL OFFICER'S NAME BELOW AND FORWARD THEPAYMENT
INFORMATION TO THE POST OFFICE IMMEDIATE STAMP OF YOUR ATM
CARD.
RECEIVER'S NAME====LINUS CHIKERE
COUNTRY========BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY============COTONOU
QUESTION========ONE?
ANSWER=========LOVE
AMOUNT===========$108 USD
MTCN NUMBER======
SENDER'S NAME======
THANKS.
BEST REGARDS,
MR.NEKELE FRANK.
TELEPHONE NUMBER +229-68584286
E-mail====post02@waterquan.com
--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by OpenProtect(http://www.openprotect.com), and is
believed to be clean.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
