|
|
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. )
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- 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: "Mrs.Msheila Duke Paymaster Gen" <stb_00026@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: stb_0001@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 15:00:10 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: KEEP IT SECRET!!!
I know this massage will come as a surprise to you because I don’t know me and have never meet or communicate with you before.
 Â
I find it difficult to tell you this but all together I must say it out because the way things are going is like our government want to make things difficult for you.
Â
 Â
Agree to work with me after you receive your fund then you compensate me If so I will let you know the reason why you haven’t receive your fund since all this while, and I will go to court clerk get your files and submit it to remittance office for immediate transfer of your fund as all the non indigenous payment files are with him so work with me now and have your fund into your account immediately.
Â
 Â
Accordance to this you will send me just $75 so that will give it to court clerk for him to release your file to me so that I will submit it immediately the office of remittance will commence on your transfer without any further as I have power in the office of remittance.
Â
 Â
Once this fee is paid, you must confirm the availability of your fund transferred into your bank account with a telex transfer confirmation slip for proper confirmation and notification to your bank account officer.
Â
 Â
You are to send the fee through western union money transfer with this information as below:
 Â
Receiver's name :Nelson Obi.
 Â
Destination     :Abuja-Nigeria
 Â
Text Question   : KEEP IT ?
Â
 Â
Text Answer     : SECRET.
 Â
Once this fee of $75 is received from you, I shall proceed to work with you and implement on your fund transfer and update you together with your bank account officer with the fund transfer confirmation slip copy and stop communicate Mr.Shamsuddeen Usman he is not in position to pay you please never you communicate with him on any reason or if you do
please stop it here.
Â
 Â
If you send this fee of $75 today, by tomorrow your fund transfer will commence without any further delay and make sure you send me the complete of your payment information.
 Â
Thanks for your understanding as I hope to hear from you immediately you receive this message.
Â
 Â
Mrs.Msheila Duke
Acting secretary
To the C.B.N Governor
|
Anti-fraud resources:
