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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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "atmpayment.department9@gmail.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- atmpayment.department9@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: f.yike@yahoo.fr
Reply-To: "Mr. Frank Yike" <atmpayment.department9@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:32:09 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello My Good Friend
Hello My Good Friend
This is to inform you that the Government's Fund Recovery Agency, Ministry of Finance Benin Republic has recovered some seized funds from the Western Union Office and Courier Services Companies including Banks. It has been discovered that your name and information is among the beneficiaries who could not conclude their transactions and did not receive their fund. You will receive your fund through International Certified Visa ATM CARD and fund will be withdraw able from any ATM MACHINE cash withdrawal point in part of the World without any further procedures because of all the delays you have encountered. All the official charges have be paid by the Benin Republic Government on the condition that once you receive this ATM CARD, you will refund the Government the fees that they paid.
Email address: atmpayment.department9@gmail.com
Thanks,
Mr. Frank Yike,
(+ 229 67 34 96 55) Fund Recovery Agency, Ministry Of Finance, Government Of The Republic Of Benin.
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