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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:
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "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)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "non-resident tax" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- w.unionmoneytransferbj@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: w.unionmoneytransferbj@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:51:14 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: PAYMENT/MTCN= 4922467329
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.hmmessage p { margin: 0px; padding: 0px; }body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; }
.hmmessage p { margin: 0px; padding: 0px; }body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma; }
ATTENTION.
We are delighted to inform you that the United Nation have
approved you for a compensation payment of $200,000.00 USD.
I have
transfer your first Cash of $5,000 USD
First
name=Mashayekhi
Scondname=Hossein
Test question= When
Test answer:=
Now
Amount= $5,000
MTCN= 4922467329
Go to www.westernunion.com now
to track your payment .To receive your cash,Contact us to clearance this fund in
your name.
But before we proceed, you are required to make a payment of
the Non-resident tax clearance of $30 only as the authorities demand which is
described as selective payment to enable us effect maximum clearance on your
file and automate your full information on the transfer script text to ensure
that the payment reach your hand on time through a legal secure way from the
exact time frame we initiateour service if you accurately furnished us with our
requirement as instructed.
It is mandatory that you will send the fee
via western union or money gram only to Provide the Non-resident tax with the
below information;
1. RECEIVER NAME======= JOHN IFEANYI
2.
COUNTRY=====COTONOU_BENIN REPUBLIC.
3. QUESTION=======IN GOD
4.
ANSWER======WE TRUST
5. AMOUNT======US$44.00
As soon as you send the
money, kindly forward the MTCN to me/attachement of the western union only.
Note that we have no legal right to deduct or add to the value of your funds
because your payment has already been keyed into the system for final transfer,
thus the compliance with this condition this payment will reach you within 24
banking hour or less.
.
Am waiting
for your urgent response.
MR LEONARD VINCENT
+229 91425696
E-MAIL: w.unionmoneytransferbj@hotmail.com
Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
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