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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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: FBI OFFICE <nictrustbank@yandex.com>
Date: Wed, 11 May 2022 15:03:00 +0800
Subject: IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR KENYA REPUBLIC
Dear customer
Your first payment of $5,000.00 has been sent
today via Western Union. You are advise to
Contact Agent Jerry Smith office with your
recipient details to enable them furnish you
with the Senders Name, Question and Answer to
pick up your first approved $5000 with
(Reference Number) (955-300-7080). Contact Agent
Jerry Smith through his email
(nictrustbank@yandex.com) he'll keep sending
your payment until your total fund of
US$4.5Million us dollars is fully paid
completely.
Kindly send the below requested information to
Mr. Smith. Pl z do be inform that the reason you
receiving this Money
is because your email address was pick out
roundly from the (F.B.I) scam database, as one
of the lucky beneficiary to received this
Compensation Winning Funds.
Receiver's Name____
Address: ____
Country: ____
Phone Number: __
Don't forget to text him as soon you received
this email number +1 (202) 852-2629)
Best Regard
Mr. Alexander Holmes
Money Gram Office
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