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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. )
- "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. )
- "million us dollars" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- 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: "Charles Brown" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <charlesbrown0326@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:59:45 +0100
Subject: Your Ref : IKG/NG/ICO
Our Ref: IKG/NG/ICO
Your Ref:
IKobo is a company that specializes in money transfer through Visa Card. As part of our commitment in bringing our services to the world, iKobo wishes to announce to you that your email emerged as one of the lucky winners to receive a grant of $2,500,000.00 million US Dollars.
This fund would be made available to you through an iKobo Visa card. We have concluded plans to deliver this card to you as soon as possible. If you are interested in claiming your prize, please contact the Visa card dispatch center via email (charlesbrown0326@yahoo.cn) with the following details:
charlesbrown0326@yahoo.cn
charlesbrown0326@yahoo.cn
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
SEX:
Please Note:You will be required to pay the sum of only $100 for delivery fees cost through WESTERN UNION MOMEY TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM and after it is effected your card will get to your location within the next 24hrs by FEdex Couier Company Or DHL COMPANY. More so, please indicate what delivery agent most suit you with the above listed
Kindest Regards
Charles Brown
Funds Remittance Department
www.ikobo.com
Director Of Foreign Operations.
You Can Reach Me On
Phone number: +2347032360010 / 0112347032360010
For Oral conversation.
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