|
|
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:
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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: frank christ <frankchrist166@gmail.com>
Reply-To: luckchristan@mail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2017 09:32:41 -0700
Subject: urgent payment
Western Union
We wish to inform you that after our verification regarding your fund
transfer, we have concluded that your fund should be transfer to your
bit by bit to avoid any stop or delay, where as we have deposited fund
by bank draft check the sum of ($1.600,000.00USD) to be transfer bit
by bit through the Western Union Department.
All you need to do is to contact the Western Union Director Mr Sonia
Rorex, he will give you direction on how you will be receiving the
funds daily. Kindly contact he with your full information to avoid
wrong transfer such as
Your full name..........
Your private telephone number..........
Your passport or identity card........
Your country....................... ...
Your City..............
After all, Mr Sonia Rorex has sent $5000 in your name today which he
will be sending to you the MTCN to pick up as soon as you have contact
with he.
Please let us know as soon as you received all your fund
Best Regards.
Best Regards.
luck christian
|
Anti-fraud resources:
