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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:
- "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. )
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- akinjimmy1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Money =?utf-8?Q?Gram=C2=AEoffice?= <"www."@tempo.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.Akin Jimmy" <akinjimmy1@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2017 20:58:02 +0900 (JST)
Subject: You have to contact the manager within 6hours of receiving this
email
Dear Esteemed Customer,
It is a pleasure for us to contact you today and apologize to you for our reluctance in sending your fund to you,This Money Gram®office has been mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to transfer your compensation fund worth $5.5Million United states Dollars,but due to the multiple offices contacting you about this transfer,we decided to wait and contact you at the right time which is now.The IMF has authorized this office to be sending you the daily payment of $5.000 United states dollars until you receive all your full $5.5Million United states Dollars and we have already sent you the first payment of $5.000 USD this morning and has decided to let you be aware that you have to contact the Money Gram®office manager (Akin Jimmy) with your below information to check-mate and release your first payment information to you immediately
Your Full Names:....................
Your Home Address:..................
Phone Number:.......................
Sex:................................
Age:................................
Occupation: ........................
Nationality:........................
Your ID Card Copy...................
Nevertheless,You have to contact the manager within 6hours of receiving this email via (akinjimmy1@yahoo.com) and failure to follow the instruction will get your transfer terminated,You can as well call him via(+22968893545) after providing your needed information through email.
I am waiting for your immediate response with the needed information now.
Yours In Service
Mr.Akin Jimmy
Email=(akinjimmy1@yahoo.com)
Telephone=(+22968893545)
Money Gram®office Manager Benin Rep.
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