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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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: "Mrs. V riteeee Maduome." <note---file16@att.net>
Reply-To: unitedstateembassy@globomail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:42:04 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GREETING FROM USA GOVERNMENT TO AMERICAN CITIZEN 12/2/2011 U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
Embassy
U.S. Citizen
Services
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U..S.
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U.S.A. HomeLand Security Department.
U.S. Department
of
State
Bureau
of Consular
Affairs
Washington
, DC
20520
THIS E-MAIL IS ONLY FOR
THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
Beneficiary/Owner
number 2661428,
We write to inform you
that your package with reference number 2661428 has been in IMPEX COURIER
UNITED KINGDOM facility custody waiting for resolutions of the
clearance to further the delivery to your delivery address. We have been waiting
for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which IMPEX COURIER suppose
to deliver to you which was on hold by US Department
of State
Bureau
and requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the
origination of the consignment box before it will be released from London,
United
Kingdom.
After the meeting held
with the Government of Benin
Republic,
it was resolved that the delivery of your consignment to you address must be
complete within two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives; You
should send the sum of $110.00 to obtain the needed clearance certificate from
Benin
Republic. The clearance charges which was initially on the
high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the
poor economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to
meet up with the clearance of their entitlement. We will upon the
confirmation of your clearing charge assign our Diplomat Agent (Prince Dickson)
to travel to United
Kingdom
and collect your package and proceed with the delivery.
Meanwhile you are
advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting us to avoid delivery
to wrong person.
1- Your
Full Name
2- Your
Delivery Address
3- Your
Contact
Telephone Number
4- Your
Occupation
5- Your
Identification (Passport number or ID Card number)
Once you notify us with
the above information we will release your consignment to you,
Note that you are
expected to pay only $110.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it to
Benin Republic as the origination of the package in favour of our accountant
officer in Benin Republic Send the $110.00 through western
union
once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of
your package,
Receivers
Name: Mr. Cyril Ekwealor
Country/ Benin
Republic
City
/Cotonou
Test Question: What
for
Answer: Help
Amount:
$110
Once you send the
money, try to notify us with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action
on the release of your consignment.
Note that any unclaimed
consignment will be return to IMPEX Office in Benin
after 3 days.
So you are urgently
advised to comply with our directives so that we will release your
consignment.
Yours
Sincerely.
Mr. Tunde
Lemo.
+229-98-95-28-02
Mrs. V riteeee.
Maduome.
Embassy
U.S. Citizen
Services
Visas to the
U..S.
U.S. Policy &
Issues
Resources
Français
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