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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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "we will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "deskofficiall001@live.fr" (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: deskofficiall001@live.fr
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:13:19 +0100 (BST)
Subject: He is at Orlando Florida Airport right now because of the Searching and Scanning of the Atm Consignment.
Attention Please,
This is in response to file passed to us from the highest authorities. We receive the email you sent, We have sent a telex activation signal base on the pressure we are having due to insufficient funds to making sure all beneficiary received their payment Via Atm card within the next 24hours, so we will advice you urgently comply with our instruction to avoid the cancellation of the transfer by Atm card and using the fund to pay others.
So you are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to us so that we can send you your Airway Bill so as to prove to you that he is currently in your country send us your telephone number or mobile phone number for easy conversation with him and to enable you give him full direction to get your package delivered to you at hand. Furthermore you are advice to be very fast as the Agent Deparker has no time to waste due to his flight ticket and he have only 1day to stay before he can go back. So the Information you are Required to Reconfirm to the Agent is as Follow.
(1)Your Full Name=============
(2)Mobile Phone Number======
(3)Current Home Address========
(4)Fax Number================
(5)Country====================
(6)City======================
(7)Nearest Airport ==============as he is at Orlando Florida Airport right now because of the Searching and Scanning of the Atm Consignment which made him to misplace your address
(8)A Copy of Your I D For Identification.
You are advice to send the money with the below details, Furthermore remember the Agent delivering the package does not know the content of that of the package So act on your party by sending the $48(US$) via western union only with the below details:
Senders Name:----
Recivers name:---- Kelvin O.Omokwe
Recivers Address: C/44 Akapakpa Centra.
Country:--- Benin Republic
City:-- Cotonou
Question:----What for?
Answer:---Services
MTCN:--------
Amount:--$48(US$)
Forward the MTCN, Q and A to this email : (deskofficiall001@live.fr) to enable us issue the transfer to your position accordingly. So that the delivery agent will deliver your atm package to you by today without any further delay again.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Thanks and we remain the Financial Bank Customer care promising to serve you better.
Regard
Mr. Pato.
The Director of Atm payment department financial bank Benin Republic.
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