|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- 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.
- moneygrampaymentoffice01@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR LUKE UGOJI <office---lots02@att.net>
Reply-To: moneygrampaymentoffice01@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:22:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT MR CHINELO IN MONEY GRAM FOR YOUR PAYMENT
WEB SITE; www.moneygramtransfer.skyrock.com
PHONE NUMBER +229-994-887-63
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY,
NOTE THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO DEPOSIT YOUR INHERITANCE FUND TO MONEY GRAM URGENT REMMITTING OFFICE SINCE YOU WAS UNABLE TO RECEIEVE YOUR MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION AND COURIER COMPANY AND ATM CARD DUE TO THEIR POOR MANAGEMENT BUT NOW I HAVE DEPOSITED YOUR FULL COMPENSATION INHERITANCE PAYMENT OF 2,600.000.00USD TO MONEY GRAM, YOU WILL BE RECEIVING 8000.00USD PER DAY AS FROM TODAY IMMEDIATELY YOU CONTACT THEM.
BUT I WANT YOU TO CONTACT THE MANAGEMENT IN MONEY GRAM RIGHT NOW AND ASK HIM FOR YOUR FIRST PAYMENT HIS NAME IS MR CHINELO OBUKWE ASK HIM TO start your payment immediately so that he will make your payment and give you THE MONEY GRAM PAYMENT INFORMATION immediately SO THAT YOU CAN BE ABLE TO PICK UP YOUR FUNDS THROUGH MONEY GRAM WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM,THIS IS HIS EMAIL ADRESS(moneygrampaymentoffice01@yahoo.fr)OR(moneygramoffice@mailaton.com) PHONE NUMBER +229-994-887-63 CONTACT HIM WITH YOUR FULL INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MAIL.
Your name...................
Country.......................
Phone no......................
Address/city................
Age/sex....................... ..
occupation...................
CALL OR EMAIL HIM NOW SO THAT HE CAN START YOUR PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY FROM HIS OFFICE AND GIVE YOU THE MONEY GRAM PAYMENT INFORMATION.
MR LUKE UGOJI
|
Anti-fraud resources:
