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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- moneygram_office22@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: office file <officefile----9723@att.net>
Reply-To: moneygram_office22@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:59:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT MONEY GRAM OFFICE FOR YOUR MTCN
Attn Beneficiary;
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic are hereby notifying you of your payment inheritance funds of $1.250,000.00 .after the meeting held on 25 25/1/2011.
His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN (DR BONI YAYI )has Instructed this Department to send your funds through Money Gram money transfer, for easy receive of your inheritance funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through the global, Now You are required to send your name and address Where you want your funds to be send through Money Gram Money Transfer.
The maximium amount you will be receiving per a day starting from tomorrow is $3000.00) and the Reference NO# will be sent along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive your funds through any Money Gram Location in your Country to avoid any further delay, Send your inforrmation to Mr Steve Long , the manager Money Gram money transfer in Cotonou Benin Republic.Note that the only money you will send to them is $95usd i have pay for the rest so contact them with your information to my sure ok
Receiver name=========
Country=============
City===============
Test question= best color========
Answer=== ==========
Tel phone===========
For further procedure, Contact the manager Money Gram with the information below;
Name Mr Steve Long
Tel; 00229-96222356.
Email; (moneygram_office22@yahoo.com)
Try to fill the Above Informations where they will be sending you your money
Your's faithfuly
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