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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (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: "NIGERIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <telexandwirecontolroom@live.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:56:54 -0700
Subject: RE;(IMF) FUND RELEASE!NOTICE! YOUR PAINS ARE ALL OVER!
IMF WORLD REGULATORY OFFICE
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
INTER-CONTINENTAL DEBT RECONCILIATION DEPT.
FROM THE DESK OF: HONORABLE MR. EFE AMAKA
DIRECTOR; IMF World Regulatory Office.
Tel; + 234 8055477264
TeleFax 234 77540724
NOTICE! YOUR PAINS ARE ALL OVER!
ATTENTION:PROVISION OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIM CERTIFICATE FOR LEGAL COVER/ PROTECTION OF US$10.5M IN FAVOR OF YOU
ATTN ; BENEFICIARY
TODAY IS MONDAY THE 30, OF JUNE 2010 AND AFTER A SERIOUS AND LENGTHY MEETING TODAY HELD BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA , DR GOOD LUCK JONATHAN ON YOUR BEHALF IT WAS DECIDED IN YOUR OWN FAVOR AND BEST INTEREST TO REDUCE THE PAYMENT FOR THE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE TO $180 SO THAT YOU CAN MEET UP WITH THE PAYMENT, PLEASE YOU ARE GIVEN ONLY 24HOURS TO DO THIS PAYMENT SO WE CAN RELEASE YOUR $10.5M US IN OUR CARE SO WE ADVICE YOU TO PAY THE $180 THROUGH THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO THE BELOW INFORMATION AND SEND THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO ME
RECEIVERS NAME: PATRICK OKONJI
SENDERS NAME:..................................
SENDERS ADDRESS: ..................................
SENDERS COUNTRY...............................
TEXT QUESTION: REDUCE
TEXT ANSWER: PAYMENT
AMOUNT: $180
ADDRESS: LAGOS STATE / NIGERIA
M.T.C.N NUMBER ...........................................
PLEASE GO AND SEND IT IMMEDIATELY AND SEND TO ME THE PAYMENT DETAILS IMMEDIATELY.
NIGERIA PRESIDENT / AMERICA PRESIDENT SIGNED AGGREEMENT CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF ALL BENEFICIARY YOUR FUND.
NIGERIA PREISDENT; GOODLUCK JONATHAN
AMERICA PRESIDENT; BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU AS OUR WORD IS OUR BOND TO YOU.
CONFIRM THE RECEIPT OF THIS E-MAIL BY YOU IMMEDIATELY AND BE REST ASSURED THAT YOU WILL BE SMILING TO YOUR BANK ONCE YOU COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE DIRECTIVES NOW.
MR. EFE AMAKA
TELEPHONE - 234 8055477264
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