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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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- agent.westernunion@cheerful.com (Cheerful; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: issah <jubrinissah010@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jubrinissah@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:18:50 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONTACT OUR WESTERN UNION AGENT!!!
Dear Friend,
How are you today? I hope all is well with you.I am happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the cooperation of a new partner from Venezuela.Presently I am in Venezuela for investment projects with my own share of the total sum.Meanwhile,I did not forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferring those funds despite that it failed us some how.
Now you have to contact our WESTERN UNION AGENT IN BURKINA FASO through this Email: agent.westernunion@cheerful.com the person in charge is Mrs Angela Sawadogo Tel: +226-50320661
Ask her to send you the total sum of US$100,000.00 which I deposited in our Western union department account for your compensation for all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.I
appreciated your efforts at that time very much.So please feel free and get in touched with her and instruct her where to send the amount to you.
Please do let me know immediately you receive the fund so that we can share the joy together after all the sufferings at that time.I am very busy here in Venezuela because of the investment projects which I and my new partner are having at hand.Finally,feel free to get in touch with the Western Union Agent Mrs Angela Sawadogo,she will send the amount to you without any delay.
Regards,
Mr Jubrin Issah.
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