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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:
- 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. )
- "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 us 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "offileupdate1010@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Diplomat ALEX EDWARDX <info@usa.org>
Reply-To: <offileupdate1010@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2021 17:07:36 +0100
Subject: Dear Beneficialy
Dear Beneficialy
I am Diplomat ALEX EDWARD I have been trying to reach you on your ciary
,telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival
in Taxes at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with your consignment
worth $2.7 million us dollars which I have been instructed by UPS
DIPLaOMATIC COURIER SERVICE to be delivered to you. The Airport authority
demanded for all the legal back up to prove to them that the fund is no way
related with drug nor fraud money,
I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased
with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me
here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the boxes, one of
the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can
exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful. I try to
reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $195
Dollars only to get the tag placed on the box as that tag will enable me
get to your house successfully without any interference, they scanned the
boxes and found out that the fund is 100 % spend able and accepted by any
bank in the whole world.
Therefore, you are required to reconfirm this below information as soon as
possible with the fee of $195 dollars needed to obtain the airport delivery
tag before the airport authority will allow me to deliver your consignment
box to your door step today without any hitch.
NAME: ______________
ADDRESS: ______________
MOBILE NO.:______________
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:______________
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :______________
You can direct the tag fee to UPS accountant officer in Nigeria as
he will get the tag here for you and they are entitled to receive and make
any payment to foreign countries authority.
Send the fee through Western Union or Money Gram:
after sending the payment to Our accountant email me the payment
information such as mtcn number also senders name text question and answer
to enable me reach them with the payment details so they can get the tags
obtain and Fax it to me one hand so i can make my next step to your address
today due to the Yellow Tags of the boxes is my only delay now .
(Here Is Your Package Unlocking CODE(AWB33XZS)
Urgent Response is needed because here is very busy.
Best Regard,
Diplomat ALEX EDWARD
CONTACT EMAIL: offileupdate1010@outlook.com
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