|
|
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:
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +447035931148 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR.NELSON COLE" <postcompanylondon@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: mr.nelsoncole@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:15:24 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION: RE-PAYMENT
WELLCOME TO DHL COURIER SERVICE LONDON UK
ATTENTION:
This is to congratulate you and officially inform you that
your over due payment has been approved for immediate payment by direct cash
delivery in your country.
This new method of payment was personal approved by the
Prime Minister because of the fraudulent practices going on in our Apex Bank
and most of our Global Payment Centers which have failed to carry out their
duties effectively.
All you need to do now is to forward immediately your
delivery address, direct phone number.
But meanwhile we can not commence on the delivery without
having our official keeping charges daily sent to us first, your Parcel was
deposited here on APRIL and our daily charge for keeping the Parcel here in our
custody is $25 per day, therefore you are to send to DHL Courier Service the
sum of $125 usd as accumulated charges of your check from 11TH OF APRIL up to
date Sixteen of April 2012.
The delivery of your parcel will commence tomorrow after we
must have received the payment from you today and our delivery schedules is
24/48 hours. You're to send the payment via Western Union agent located nearest
to you with our accountant name below
Receivers Name: Gary Jones
Destination: London-Uk
Send the money via Western Union money transfer service and
forward the payment information to us for easy pick up. We will forward the
tracking number of your parcel as soon as we got everything done today. Please
remember to reconfirm your mailing address & cell phone # to us ok
PAYMENT DETAILS TO SEND TO US
{REFERENCE # or MTCN #}:__________________
Senders Name:______________________
MODE OF DELIVERY
As soon as we receive the payment today, Our International
Diplomatic Agent will depart London with your Parcel and your Shipment Airway
bill will be sent to you immediately to track your Cargo yourself given address
within 48 Hours. Our delivery man will call you on his arrival to your country
to schedule how to come to your house and hand over your Parcel to you.
Before the departure of your consignment, we shall send to
you your Fund Ownership Certificate which will prove that you are the rightful
beneficiary of the fund.
Waiting for your urgent reply
MR.NELSON COLE
FOREIGN DELIVERY
DEPARTMENT DHL LONDON
CALL +44 7035931148
|
Anti-fraud resources:
