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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:
- "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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "accredited attorney" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- wwesternunionm@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Barr Femi Andy <officce.office8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wwesternunionm@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 01:48:51 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: How are you doing today, do not delivery your first payment today.
How are you doing today,
I write to inform you that we already issued those documents to accompany
your $4500 payment each day. But the only problem we are having right here is your
personal signatures which the Federal Administer of Fund Benin Republic
requested that you must sign those documents before we can transfer funds to
you. However, I told the officer in charge that it will not be necessary for
you to come down here due to your occupation or some other thing that may not
allow you to come down here to sign those documents yourself. The Minster
Administrator of Fund said that you should get an attorney to sign on your
behalf if you are unable to come down here in person.
I think this way is the best and the only way forward for you to receive the
funds. I have negotiated with an attorney who would sign on your behalf. His
name is Henry Floyd. According to him you are to pay for the accredited
attorney. He is charging $135.00 to be paid before he gets those documents
signed in your favor. I told him to consider signing those documents on your
behalf today with a promise that you would pay him back from the $4500
payment you suppose to receive tomorrow morning if he gets those documents signed
today. Note that the total payment you are going to receive is $1.250.000.00.
And his respond is that you have to pay the accredited attorney fee of
$135.00 before signing those documents. Well, I asked him for the very last time
if he could allow you pay half of his fee today with a promise that you would
pay him the Remain balance tomorrow from your $4500 payment at the western union
office once you pick up the $4500 payment. Well, he said that you should pay the half
of the fee $67.50. through western union today. He want me to ask you if you
would be so kind to pay him back the remain $67.50. balance at the western
union office once you picked up the $4500 pay out each day. I am hereby this
writing to ask you to let me know if you would pay his balance immediately
you pick up the $4500 payment.
He wants you to pay half of $67.50.00 today if you are so kind to pay the
balance at the western union office once you picked up the $4500 payment
tomorrow. But if you are not kind enough to pay his balance after picking the
first transfer just do not bother yourself not to reply because I won?t see
another attorney here to do this. Here is information for you to pay $67.50.
half of his fee through western union today.
Send The half of the fee $67.50 today via Western Union ;
Receiver name;MR Sam Chika
Country; Benin Republic
City; Cotonou
Text question; Sent
Answer; Yes
Amount; $67.50
Sender?s name;
MTCN;
The attorney will get those documents signed as soon as he confirms the half of
his fee from you. I will advice you to pay him the half of $67.50 and let him
sign the documents and you will then pay the other balance of $67.50 form
your $4500 payment.
HERE IS INFORMATION MINISTRY OF FINANCE TOLD US TO RELEASE TO YOU BUT YOU
CANNOT PICK IT UNTILL YOU PAY FOR THE SIGNING OF THE DOCUMENTS YOU CAN TRY
IT WITH www.westernunion .com IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP BY RECEVER
SENDER NAME...Norbert Jangula
MTCN.....7423272592
AMOUNT......4500
TEXT QUESTION
ANSWER IN GOD
I await your compliance.
Sincerely,
Barr Femi Andy
Money Transfer Department
you can contact us once you make the payment with this
Email; (wwesternunionm@yahoo.com.hk)
Tel Phone +22968229394.
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