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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. )
- "million 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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 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 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: Western Union <westernuni12@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:56:16 +0000
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?FROM_THE_O?= =?windows-1256?Q?FFICE_OF_T?=
=?windows-1256?Q?HE_WESTERN?= =?windows-1256?Q?_UNION_MON?=
=?windows-1256?Q?EY_TRANSFE?= =?windows-1256?Q?R.=FE?=
Attention: Beneficiary,
We want to bring to your notice that you did not receive your fund of US$1.5 Million Dollars, which you supposed to be receiving $5.000 daily due to your inability to comply with our directive.
It may interest you to note that everything will never work on your own way, You have to adhere strictly to our instruction to enable you start receiving your money immediately.
Here is the information to send the charges
RECEIVER-------------OGOR MADRID
LOCATION CITY---------COTONOU-BENIN
COUNTRY-----------------BENIN
TEXT QUESTION--GOOD?
ANSWER-----------GOOD
You are delaying the release of your money. Stop pointing blame on us. actfast and you will start receiving your $5.000 Dollars today.
We hereby advise you to proceed to your local Western union and make the required payment to enable you start receiving your $5.000 dollars daily. Note, that you can only receive your money after you make the required payment, not after you receive the first payment. take note of this.
Dont ask for the release of your first payment of $5.000 because is against our rules and regulations.
You can call me on +22996309036 / +22998593363 for further communication.
Thanks and my regards,
Rev Luis Zima
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850553/direct/01/
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