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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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 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.
- wwwwesternu6@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. ALEX PETER" <johnpaul9@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: wwwwesternu6@rocketmail.com
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2012 21:27:59 +0800 (CST)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT IS READY TRACK MTCN:9512708833
Western Union Money
Transfer®
Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer office Benin
Republic.
ADDRESS: 17, BP OPPOSITE POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC.
Website:
www.westernunion.com PHONE(+229 99431613 )
( wwwwesternu6@rocketmail.com )
Dear Costumer Email alert:
The Western Union
Money Transfer Service Benin Republic headquarters wishes to inform you that our
government has paid part of the fees needed for the final release of your funds
$1.500,000.00 USD to you this month through our Western Union Office here in
Benin Republic to avoid you sending much money to African scam again.
And
for your information the maximum amount you will be receiving started from
tomorrow is $5000 USD till your total funds of $1.500,000.00 USD is complete
transferred to you and we have been strongly to send you the first payment of
$5000USD today through our payment system here before we find out that your
payment file need to renew from world Bank central system.And we listed bellow
for your first payment of $5000usd been sent in your name today morning but you
will not pickup the money unless you send the fee of US$45.00 require to renew
and reconfirm your payment file to us through the World Bank Central System here
in Benin Repulic.
Bellow is your first payment for $5000usd sent
today.
Sender Name: Lawrence Okoye
MTCN:
9512708833
Question= What
Color
Answer= White
Amount Sent: $5000.00
So if you want to track
the money and confirm if the funds is transferred enter our website
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global then click tracking and enter the mtcn number?
9512708833 Enter senders first name? Lawrence .Enter senders
last name..Okoye and click tracking and it will show you that your funds is
available for you to pick it up.
Final urgent in sending us the $45.00usd
to enable us proceed on reconfirm your payment file from the world Bank central
SYSTEM .Send the fee directly with the name as outline below use it to send the
money via western union to enable us pick it from our department here and
reconfirm your payment file approval from the world Bank central and commerce
your daily payment immediately.we also repeat again, you will not pickup the
money unless you send the fee of US$45 require to renew and reconfirm your
payment file to us through the World Bank Central System in Benin Republic.
So if you would prefer to start receiving your payment first thing
tomorrow in the morning hurry up and send the renew and reconfirmation of your
payment file fees $45usd with bellow information via western union money
transfer service.
Receiver Name: EDDY NWAEZE
Country: BENIN REPUBLIC
Text Question: VERY URGENT?
Answer:
TODAY
Amount: $45usd
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) is needed and
sender's name
Finally
Notice: This payment you are receiving is coming directly from World Bank
assistance programmable 2012 promo, so its risk free and we the western union
headquarters has agree to start sending you the payment immediately you meet up
with our demand in this latter.But after 2days you did not reply stand the risk
of cancel your payment and have it return back to government
Yours
respectfully,
MR. ALEX
PETER
Director Western Union
Payments
CALL ME ONCE AGAIN FOR MORE INFORMATION +229
99431613
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