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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "interl.departm2@msn.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL BANK <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: interl.departm2@msn.com
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:00:28 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: VAT FEE.
Attention!
How are ou doing ? Apex Bank Benin. Intercepted a bunch of payment
information from ATM Payment Department financial Bank. The money has
halted the transaction by the demand of the Federal ministry of finance
Service case No. 3752 since the recipient has been undergoing the
international retrieval by the VAT. be informed that we have provide
all the document, and we are giving you the last promise that you are
going to receive your Atm card by tomorrow been monday. only if you can
send us only the delivery charges of $42.
Furthermore, you will pay for the Zip archive/VAT to receive back your
One million two hundred thousand USD that is an executable. The
requested fee for the Zip archive/VAT is $65, you shall be required to
pay the sum of $42(Only) You would make the payment of $42 within 1hr
time through western union money transfer or money gram with the below
details.
Receiver Name:_________Jona Uzoma Simple
Country:________Benin Republic
City:_________Cotonou
City Code:_______00229
Test Question:______Who is our savior?
Answer:________The Lord Jesus
MTCN Number:_________
Amount____$42
On our receipt of the payment information, we will them process the
payment and attach the invoice and you will print out the invoice copies
attached and collect the money at any Bank. You must make sure you have
your ID card you will use for making the payment before the money will
be hand to you. If you do not pay the fee in 24hours you will have to
pay 20$ per day.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Thank you!
Yours ,
Williams Peter/Wilferd Prosper.
Reply only via this email (interl.departm2@msn.com) also with the MTCN questen /answer as soon as you send the fee .
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