|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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: Office File <aichamamaaichamama81@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unnation012@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2023 18:28:28 -0600
Subject: Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer World Wide!!! MTCN: 969-396-9727
Greetings From Western Union Office Department.
This is to inform you that Mr. Jerry Cooper Thamos came to our office
last week in order to claim your funds which is sum US5.5 MILLION USD.
Mr. Jerry Cooper Thamos told us that you died few months ago and he is
your next of kin to replaced you and claim your funds which is sum of
US$5.5 Million USD. So, if it's not true then confirm immediately
because he is been pressuring us that he is willing to pay the pending
fee of $150 for us to have your fund released to him.
Confirm if this is true because we have already sent out your Western
Unioon daily payment and is available for you now to pick when you
send the required $150 usd.
BELOW IS YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $4,500 AND IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO PICK
UP NOW BUT IS BEEN PLACED ON HOLD BECAUSE YOU NEED TO PAY $150 ONLY
FOR YOUR PAYMENT FILE RENEWAL BEFORE IT WILL BE RELEASED FOR YOU TO
PICK UP.
MTCN: 969-396-9727
Sender's name: Juan Carlos De La Fuentes Sanchez
Amount: $4,500 USD
Track your payment online with this site
(www.westernunion.com/web/global-service/track-transfer)to see that is
ready for you to pick up
Furthermore, you are advised to respond to our message immediately, so
we can give you the details where to send the fee of $150 to.
Name: Mr. Devin McGranahan
Manager Director for Western Union.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
