|
|
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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- 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: Tim Morris <tim.morrisz@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2017 13:00:11 +0000
Subject: DID YOU AUTHORIZE.. MR. JAMES PERREN?
ATTN:
DID YOU AUTHORIZE.. MR. JAMES PERREN?
I WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO RELEASE YOUR PACKAGE $12.9 MILLION DOLLAR TO MR.JAMES PERREN WHO MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT YOU ARE DEAD AND BEFORE YOU DIED YOU SIGN A DEED AGREEMENT WITH HIM TO CLAIM YOUR FUND AS YOUR NEXT OF KIN , WHICH YOUR SILENT FROM NOT SENDING THIS NEEDED FEE $153 TO US FOR A LONG TIME NOW HAS PROVED TO US THAT YOU ARE TRULY DEAD.
BUT WE WANT TO CONFIRM FROM YOU BEFORE WE RELEASE YOUR FUND TO HIM TO AVOID ANY MISTAKE. BUT IF WE DID NOT HEAR FROM YOU THAT MEANS YOU ARE DEAD AND WE ARE GOING TO RELEASE YOUR TOTAL FUND OF $12.9 MILLION
DOLLAR TO MR.JAMES PERREN AS YOUR NEXT OF KIN.
SO IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE STILL ALIVE KINDLY RESPOND TO US TODAY WITH THE WESTERN UNION PAYMENT INFORMATION.
Amount: 153 usd dollars
MTCN:________
Sender Name:________
Sender Country:___________
YOUR FULL AND CORRECT INFORMATION FOR URGENT RELEASE OF THIS FUND TO YOU AND ALSO BE READY TO SEND THE NEEDED FEE $153 WHICH IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL STOP YOU FROM GETTING YOUR FUND.
FULL NAME:______________
COUNTRY:__________________
CITY :______________________
AGE :________________________
OCCUPATION :___________________
PHONE # :________________________
HOME ADDRESS:_______________________
NOTE: YOU HAVE ONLY TO COMPLY AND IF YOU FAIL,WE ARE GOING TO RELEASE YOUR PACKAGE TO MR. JAMES PERREN AS YOUR NEXT OF KIN.
THANKS
TIM MORRIS
WORLD COUNCIL OF FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATORY
|
Anti-fraud resources:
