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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "@diplomats.com" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- akaikenga@diplomats.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Senior Diplomatic Agent, Mr. Aka Ikenga" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <akaikenga@diplomats.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:33:23 -0800
Subject: I have been trying to reach you about 4 hours now
Attention: please urgently call or send me SMS +1 (347) 990-1820
I'm Diplomatic Agent Mr. Aka Ikenga, I have been trying to reach you about 4 hours now, to inform you about my successful arrival at John F.Kennedy International Airport New York City with your consignment box worth $12.5 Million Dollars inheritance fund, with a Visa Credit Card and a Master Credit Card and their pin number and a verified cashier check which I have been instructed by UN/IMF and West Africa Government to deliver to you.
The Airport Authority demanded for the legal back up papers to prove that fund is no way related with drug or fraud money, and I have presented the papers to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented to them.
But the only thing that is still keeping me here is airport clearance TAG and Police Clearance Report from fund origin country which is not placed on the consignment box.
I was told that it will cost $408 to get the Tag here in USA due to some penalty charges that will be required.
One of the airport authority i knew advised we get the delivery tag from the fund origin 'Cotonou Benin Republic' at low cost and less convenience so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful to your home.
Then we contacted the appropriate authorities in Benin that will issue it and they said it will cost $120 to secure it.
So please try as much as you can to reach me on Phone as soon as possible to facilitate this and proceed with the delivery as I cannot afford to spend much time here.
Send the fee direct to the authority in Benin to issue the requested documents and fax it to me here immediately.
Send the $120 to this information they provided for the payment via Western Union or Money Gram or RIA money transfer only.
Here is the receiver informations
Receiver name: LEO IBE
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou:
Test Question: Urgent
Answer: Today
Amount: $120
MTCN:.........?
MG Reference number.....?
Ria Number
SENDER NAME AND ADDRESS.....?
And kindly reconfirm the below information upon contacting me to avoid wrong delivering.
Full Name
Delivery Designated Address
Your Contact Telephone Number Cell:
Call or Text me the payment information as soon as you make the payment available to the name of Leo Ibe.
Senior Diplomat Agent Mr. Aka Ikenga
John F.Kennedy International Airport
Message Me Once You Read My Email +1 (347) 990-1820
akaikenga@diplomats.com
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