|
|
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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "insurance 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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: dhl courier <dhlcourier_20009@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2016 10:14:10 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM DHL COURIER SERVICE THE DISPACH OF YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD TREAT
IT AS URGENT
DEAR SIR
WE ARE STILL WAITING TO RECEIVE THE $100 FROM YOU SO THAT WE CAN DISPACH YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD TO YOUR NOMINATED ADDRESS WITHOUT ANY DELAY OF ANY KIND
BE INFORM THAT EVERY ARRENGEMENT REGARDING TO THE DISPACH OF YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD HAS BEEN CONCLUED AWAITING TO RECEIVE THE NEEDED FEE
NOTE THAT YOU WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INSURANCE FEE AGAIN BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN WAIVE OFF THE ONLY FEE YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY IS THE $100 FOR THE DELIVERY FEE SO THAT WE CAN DISPACH YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD TO YOUR DOOR STEP
SO YOU ARE ADVICE TO SEND THE $100 BY MONEY GRAM WITH INFORMATION BELOW
RECEIVER: CHARLES OBASI
TEXT QUESTION: DELIVERY
TEXT ANSWER: FEE
ADDRESS LAGOS NIGERIA
AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE MONEY RECONFIRM THE WIRE INFORMATION AND YOUR FULL ADDRESS AND YOUR FULL NAME TO AVOID WRONG DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM DEBIT CARD TO ANOTHER PERSON
THANKS
MRS GRACE ADAMS
HEAD CUSTOMERS SERVICE DHL COURIER SERVICE
|
Anti-fraud resources:
