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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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: OFFICE FILE <officefile_1@att.net>
Reply-To: westerunion@9.cn
Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 07:34:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention:
Attention:
I would like to let you know that the Honourable Minister of finance DR BEN JOHNSON has ordered that the only money you will send now is just $45 US DOLLARS so that we will start sending your daily payment of $5100 US DOLLARS until your total fund is paid out to you complette.
If you fail to comply by sending this fee within 3 working days of this order, your total fund will be confiscated and it will be transfer to government purse.
So, I urge you to try and see that you send the $45 immediately you receive this message today so that we can finalise everything with them today,by tomorrow, you will start to receive your fund $5100 daily.
BELOW ARE THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO SEND THE $45 US DOLLARS OK,
NAME..............Alex Igweze.
CITY................COTONOU
COUNTRY.........BENIN REPUBLIC
QUESTION........WHO IS GREAT
ANSWER............GOD
AMOUNT...........$45
MTCN............
Make sure you comply immediately you receive this mail to enable us carry out our duties effectively and urgent as we have schedule today. We are looking forward to hearing from you together with the payment details.
Once again. immediately we receive the activation fee today, is rest assured that your payment shall be release without wasting time and you will be able to pickup your daily pyament $5100 in any Western Union office in your area. And we shall be forwarding your daily payment every morning until your total fund valued of $1.5Million USD is completely wired to you.
Contact Person--- Mr John Jomos.
Email address-- westerunion@9.cn
Yours truly
Dr. Willis Smith.
Tel: (+229-98 99-1701
For Western Union Department Ecobank Benin.
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