|
|
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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- customercareservice3@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Penny B Williams." <mrs.penny@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: customercareservice3@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:12:19 +0900
Subject: MONEY GRAM PAYMENT
>From the Desk of Rev.Frank Williams
Operational Director General
Foreign Payment Officer
Tel:+229-(98-36-28-70)
MONEY GRAM MONEY TRANSFER BENIN REPUBLIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Customer,
Money Gram Office Benin Republic branch wish to inform you that your fund with
registration CODE # 82259549 ) is now ready to transfer to you as authorized
by the depositor of your fund Dr Kelly Harris U.N Secretary to this Office
and we can assure you that we are experts and will commence the transfer of
your fund to your country as soon as you comply with our mode of transfer system.
The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND ( I M F ) contacted us for your compensation
a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.They said that they
choose to send it to an email. We are unable to complete a transfer directed
at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete
this transfer
Your fund is properly sealed and register with your information and will be
transfer to you within 1 hours as the depositor registered the fund along with
some vital documents required by Money Gram under transfer rules and
regulation to effect the transfer to your information without any further delay.
We now needed your correct information as where you will want us to be Sending
your funds.
Your name:____________________________
Country:______________________________
Phone No:_____________________________
Address:______________________________
City:_________________________________
Age:__________________________________
Sex:__________________________________
CALL OR EMAIL NOW SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE MONEY GRAM INFORMATION TO YOU AS
SOON AS YOU CAN.
We wait your earliest call and responds.
Regards,
Rev.Frank Williams,
Tel:+229-(98-36-28-70)
customercareservice3@gmail.com
FOREIGN REMITTANCE/ VERIFICATION
INTEGRATED PAYMENT DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTMENT MONEY GRAM PAYMENT BENIN REPUBLIC
|
Anti-fraud resources:
