|
|
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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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: patrick james <"WWW."@cure.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: patrick james <patrickjames1189@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 01:55:23 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION
I am writing to inform you that we have sent $5000 USD via Money Gram
as we have been given the mandate to transfer your payment of the
total compensation of $2.5000,00.00 USD via Money Gram.
You are to track the first payment with our website below to confirm
the availability of the below payment details:
To track simply follow the instructions, click on the below website.
https://secure.moneygram.com/track
Refrence: 62272243
Last Name: Shabangu
Be informed that your funds was placed on Hold; thereby you can not
Pick it up immediately due to an instruction from IMF Office
(International Monetary Fund) that you have to obtain the Fund
Clearance Certificate (FCC). This Certificate is to Bear you the
Original Beneficiary of the Fund and make a change of the Receiver to
your Name, and this Certificate will cost $200 only, which are to be
paid by you the beneficiary to make a documented change of Receiver to
your name.
The total amount for everything is $200 we have tried our possible
best to Indicate that this $200 should be deducted from your total
fund but we found out that the funds have already been deposited under
IMF Policy and cannot be accessed by anyone apart from you the
beneficiary, therefore you will be required to pay the required fee's
to the Agent in-charge of this Certificate. you are advice to direct
the payment via money gram with bellow information.
Receiver Name===============Mark Richard
Country==================BENIN REPUBLIC
City================== COTONOU
Amount=================$200
Mtcn==================
Sender's name===========
Looking forward to receive the payment details to enable you start
receiving your payment on daily basis immediately the Certificate is
obtain on your behalf.
Remain Blessed
Best of Regard
patrick james
+22999750880
|
Anti-fraud resources:
