|
|
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:
- 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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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 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.
- mr.davidmark34@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR JOHN OZO <"www."@wine.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR JOHN OZO <mr.davidmark34@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2017 22:41:18 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Go and pick up your fisrt payment now Control Number (M.T.C.N)::
#:69133972
MONEY GRAM OFFICE MONEY TRANSFER. UBA BANK. P.L.C
I am contacting you because I've sent you the first payment of $5,000.00
today from your winning funds total amount of $4.5Million USD, Therefore
you need to contact MONEY GRAM OFFICE agent MR.JOHN OZO for him to give
you the transfer payment information and QUESTION and ANSWER
Below is your first payment for $5000 usd sent you today.
Track View Website link:
https://secure.moneygram.com/ transactions/
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N) 69133972)
Senders First Name:-----------------Isaiah
Sender last name::: -----------------ike
Amount sent:------------------------$5,000.00
Please try to contact him now for him to furnish you with the payment
information also remember to indicate the registration code of EB-2520
to him when e-mailing or calling him, perhaps he will be sending you
$5,000.00 daily as per my discussion with him.
Fill your details below for reference purposes:
NAME OF CUSTOMER::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ADDRESS:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
COUNTRY::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
TELPHONE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
YOUR PHONE THAT IS RECEIVING SMS::::::::::::::::::::::::::
OCCUPATION::::::::::::::::::::::
SECOND EMAIL ADDRESS :::::::::::::::::::::::::
MONEY GRAM Agent: MR JOHN OZO
Email: mr.davidmark34@hotmail.com
Phone: (+229)-98753623
Sincerely
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE SOON.
YOURS SINCERELY ,
MR JOHN OZO
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL
PAYMENT OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
|
Anti-fraud resources:
