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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:
- 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:
- "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. )
- "you are advise to" (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 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.
- 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.
- robertzul01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Robert Zulu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertzul01@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:35:37 +0200
Subject: Attention Needed
Attn;Please"
After series of investigations by the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria, It is verified that your payment has been unnecessarily delayed by corrupt officials of Western Union Office,Money Gram office and various courier Companies who are trying to divert your money into their private accounts.It has been over-due for collection. It is ridiculous and hypatheting that payment should be approved but delayed by unknown elements.
I hereby inform you that your funds were finally transferred to the account of your Immediate Brother as your Relatives
presented on thursday 12/01/2017 from our Telex Dept. Office in California, U.S.A address: GEORGE WILLIAMS/ 8194 SW MURRAY BLVD BEAVERTON, OREGON 97005.
We are not comfortable because you have not contacted us to confirm that you have received your funds in your account.
Therefore you are advise to get back to us or re-confirm if you has received the payment Slip or not,immediately to help us cross-check your transaction with our banking Telex.
Make sure you respond immediately for quick check on the infos. to enable me release your transaction Code#
for you to re-check your funds with your bank. Reply here:robertzul01@gmail.com
Have a nice day and i am hoping to hear from you soon, once you have reached the bank.
Yours in service
Mr. Robert Zulu
Call/ +234 81 668 78 211
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