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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:
- 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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- upu@post.com (Post; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: hj467058@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2020 01:05:58 +0000
Subject: URGENT: waiting
Untitled form
To fill it out, visit:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJEddIqn81vd0rTAPczRCNSFhvwO7u2ZYy-pJeVJsK9yJaKg/viewform?vc
Greetings,
Your World Bank Approved ATM Card worth 800,000.00 Euro has been shipped
and below is the tracking details
http://www.fedex.com/tracking Your Tracking Number: 800277347645
You have to send the sum of US$372 via MONEY GRAM immediately for the
shipping redirection/exculpatory fee and your ATM CARD will be delivered to
you within 24 hours.
DETAILS FOR MONEYGRAM:
Receiver Name: Adrian Sheridan Pennie
State: New York
City: Jamaica
Amount: US$372
We are waiting to hear from you ASAP with payment number/slip on EMAIL:
upu@post.com
Regards
Norbert Brunner
+1 972 472 0098
Universal Postal Union
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