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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. )
- "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. )
- 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: Mrs Linda J Douglas <augustinedavid301@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrslindajerry782@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2022 13:42:15 -0700
Subject: Attn
Attn
Western Union Money Transfer, in conjunction with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) Reconciliation Committee had agreed to pay you a
total amount of $50,000.00 USA compensation fund.
The compensation fund has been signed to be paid to you for all the
money you have lost to scammers and through internet banking frauds
We write to inform you that we have send sum of 50,000 Dollars to you.
Bellow is the Tracking # (MTCN):527-614-3244 Available
You can viste the website and track by yourself.
https://www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer
Tracking # (MTCN):527-614-3244 Available for picking you by the receiver.
The money transfer is ready for pick up. Receiver should bring the
tracking number (MTCN) and government-issued ID to pick up the money.
All we need is just only 50.Dollars to sign and renew your name.
You are to buy iTunes Card or steam wallet of 50 Dollars and send as
soon as possible.
I wait to receive the cards to enable me sign and renew your name
Thanks
Mrs Linda J Douglas
Track your money transfer | Western Union
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