|
|
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. )
- "to your nominated 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "western.union_moneytransfer@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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: WESTERN UNION <officefile----0034@att.net>
Reply-To: western.union_moneytransfer@live.fr
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:49:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Good day;
Western Union payment
Western Union
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Good day;
We are writing in respect to your unclaimed lotto winning prize of USD$1,500.000.00 (One Million Five Thousand United State Dollars only) which you won through the email-ballot draws in our Euroafric Lotto Award in 2010 in the second category prize winnings.
We wish to inform you that your total prize money of USD$1,500.000.00 has been scheduled for payment Via Western Union System and you are here by requested to contact Western Union Office for your immediate payment with the below information's.
FULL NAME:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
PHONE:
YOUR AGE:
YOUR COUNTRY:
DIRECT PHONE/CELL NUMBER. (For easy communication)
Send the above listed information?s to the Fund Verification Department Office on the information below:
Contact Person: Pst Collins Nelson.
Mobile: +229 99705740
E-mail: ( western.union_moneytransfer@live.fr )
As soon as this information is received and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges your payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transferring Bank. While emailing kindly use reference number 250-153 for our mutual convenience. I will advise that you call Pst. Collins Nelson
Best Regards
Mr. John . W.Gregg.
Western Union Money Transfer
Western Union welcoming you to our World
Send and Receive Money Worldwide.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
