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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "diplomatkath@planetmail.net" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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: "Diplomat Kathleen Keymel" <uzoballa@att.net>
Reply-To: <diplomatkath@planetmail.net>
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:13:44 -0700
Subject: I Am At JF Kenedy International Airport With Your Funds(Write Me Back)
Good Day,
I am Diplomat Miss. Kathleen Keymel, mandated to deliver your inheritance to you in your country of residence. The funds total US$1 Million and you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with the Agreement I signed with the benefactor when he enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
The airport authority demanded for the legal back up papers to prove that the funds is in no way related to drug or money laundry which i did present to them and they were very much pleased with the papers i presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the packages ( Funds ), one of the Airport Authority as advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful.
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $85 Dollars only to get the two tag placed on the package because that tag will enable me get to your house successfully without any interference. They have scanned the package and found out that the fund is 100% spendable and accepted by any bank in the whole world. So the only thing still keeping me here is the airport delivery tag which is to be secured from our head office and sent over here to be placed on the consignment boxes so as to enable me proceed to meet with you. So you are hereby advised to send the $85 through Western Union or MoneyGram to the information provided to you and get back with the pick up details so i can forward it to our head office for them to pick up the money, secure the tag and direct it over here to be placed on the package so as to enable me proceed to meet with you. I hope everything is well understood. Below is the information to send the $85 for the tag to be s!
ecured and sent over to me here.
Name: Francis Sule
City: Cotonou
Amount: $85 US Dollars
Country: Republic Of Benin
Text Question: Who is our savior?
Answer: Lord Jesus.
Sender's Name:
MTCN:
I am at John F. Kennedy International airport and before I can deliver the package (funds) to you, you have to reconfirm the following information so as to ensure that I am dealing with the right person:
1. Full Name
2. Residential Address
3. Age
4. Occupation
5. Direct Telephone Numbers
6. A Copy of Your Scanned Identification
After verifying your information with what I have on file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address. You can call me on my international roaming number +22996039730 to confirm the receipt of my message. My email address: ( diplomatkath@planetmail.net )
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Regards,
Diplomat Miss Kathleen Keymel.
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