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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- 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 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.
- westernunion77777@yahoo.com.cn (Yahoo, China; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Paul William <paulwm007@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion77777@yahoo.com.cn
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:59:36 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: CONTACT WESTERN UNION FOR YOUR FUNDS ASAP
Hello Dear Friend
I was looking for your contact since two months ago to tell you about the new development in which you will Receive your outstanding fund easily without any problem because the federal government of this country has Release your fund to you by western union money transfer.
According to minister of finance you will be receiving your fund everyday till your total fund of 1.6million got finished So try as much as possible to get you funds transferred to you.This is your opportunity to have your funds transfered to you.
Contact western union money transfer office for immediate transfer of your fund at the rate of $6000.00 us dollar everyday till you
Receive all your total fund of $1.6million us dollar.
Bellow is your file number
YOUR FILE NO.... KGU/8020182590
Contact western union department below and send to them your full information as listed below
(1) FULL NAME.................
(2) ADDRESS....................
(3) COUNTRY...................
(4) PRIVATE TEL................
(5) PRIVATE FAX...............
(6) YOUR ATTACHED PHOTO
contact the Mr Douglas Morris who is in position to release your payment now through this email address(westernunion77777@yahoo.com.cn),Tel/+22998211297 and forawrd to him the stated information immediately for the release of your first payment of $6000 per.
Note that you will be receiving per day the sum of $7500 until your total sum of $1.6Musd is being exhausted.
Best Regards
Paul William
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