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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state of america" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: michael moyes <"Michael."@dream.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: michael moyes <michaelmoyes432@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2017 10:51:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ARE YOU STILL A LIFE
Attention:
My name is Diplomatic Peter Onyeka who will deliver
your ATM CARD of US$10.500.000.00 from Phoenix Sky Harbor
International
Airport Arizona United State of American am here to inform
you that a
man came to custom office in this morning name is John
William he told
custom that he is your Brother from your city he said that
you are dead.
Last week ago in a car accident on your way going to
hospital see your doctor and before your death you
told him that you have an ATM CARD worth of $10.5
million
dollars cost of $157.00 to receive the ATM CARD worth of
$10.5 million and he came with the $157.00 dollars for
the activation fee of the ATM card to collect it on your
behalf right now at Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport.
If real you are dead may your soul rest in perfect peace
AMEN, but if you are alive pl ease due call me or get get
back
to me with the $157.00 dollars activation fee
of the ATM CARD immediately with your home address
today .
But if you are real alive but you not willing to send the
$157;00 today receive the ATM CARD of $10.5 million do not
contact so we can give the ATM CARD of $10.5
million to John William as your next of kin but if you
alive willing to receive the ATM CARD of $10.5 million use
this
information go western union or money gram
send the activated fee $157,00 forward MTCN number and your
home address to receive the ATM CARD of $10.5 million next 3
hours
enable us arrested John William as Fraud
Receiver Name …..MIKE NWAVE
Country ….. Benin Republic
City ….. Port-Novo
Text Question ….. Yes
Text Answer ….. Yes
Amount ….. $157 usd
MTCN …..
Sender Name …..
Sender Country …..
If I did not hear from you today with the activation fee
then I will collect
the $157.00 dollars activation fee from Mr John and
hand the ATM card over to
him within 3hours
Full Name...........
Your City...........
Your Home address...
Your Nearest Airport...
Your Phone No....
Do have a wonderful day if you are alive but if you are
Yours Faithfully
Dr.MICHAEL MOYES
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