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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Payment Department" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionpayment@strompost.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 18:25:03 +0200
Subject: Your Payment Through Western Union
Dear Friend,
We wish to inform you that your payment has been approved to be paid through Western Union Money Transfer due to so many complicating issues to get you money across to you. You are now advised to contact Western Union Office immediately and send them your details so they can proceed with the payment to you as we arranged with Western Union to commence with transfer immediately you get in touch with them. Daily Payment of $5000 will be wired to you till your full payment of $800,000 has been completed.
However you are advised to contact the Officer in Charge of Western Union office in Nigeria.
Officer in Charge: Olawale Martins
Email: westernunionpayment@j-mail.info
Tel: + 234-708-827-8955
Note before they can proceed with your payment by tomorrow you will be cleared by their norms and be advice to act in accordance so as to enable them commence with your payment. Below information should be sent to them
Full Name:
Address:
Telephone Number/Fax:
The officer in charge Mr. Olawale Martins will email you with the tracking details (MTCN) you need to pick your Money. Your earnest response to this is needed.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Yours faithfully.
International Moneytary Fund
Copyright © 2001 - 2009 Western Union Money Transfer. All Right Reserved
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