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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:
- "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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "doctordogoodmercedes@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Doctor Dogood Mercedes <DogoodMercedes076356789@eos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Doctor Dogood Mercedes <doctordogoodmercedes@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 11:05:17 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Customer,
"PAN AFRICAN BANK WORLD-WIDE TRUST FUNDS"
"West African Fund Monitoring Unit"
"French Currency Operations"
"Finance Control Unit"
Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Tel.:00229- 9572 990
Fax.: +229- 98307087
Dear Customer,
Am contacting you personally because Africa Union (AU) has started releasing Scam Victims compensation fund to their Visa ATM Card Payment and BANK Transfer Victims but the ECOWAS BANK MANAGEMENT said you are Dead for several months now. If you are still ALIVE and NOT DEAD just reply to this mail as your funds that was delayed over the years from our Banks has just been released to you.
Your fund was finally approved by the ECOWAS President, His Excellency JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA at the ECOWAS press submit which was held in South Sudan yesterday being the 25th of January, 2016. By the power invested on me by ECOWAS PRESIDENT to conduct your transfer through "Western Union Money Transfer" So be informed that your Western Union Money Transfer account has been opened by the Western Union Money Transfer Office Agent BCEAO Benin Republic West Africa DEPARTMENT of (BANK for AFRICA) with the part payment deposits of US$989,000.062 in your name. As will be sending to you from our western union electronic Central Processing Unit (CPU) VERIFICATION of the (BOA) once I receive your (a) Full Names (b) Telephone Contacts & Your valid delivery address.
Yours Faithfully
Doctor Dogood Mercedes (President) Western Union Money Transfer.
Email: doctordogoodmercedes@outlook.com
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