|
|
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:
- "from the desk of" (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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- chrisdav.embassy@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Christian Davis <secondary15@obec.go.th>
Reply-To: christian Davis <chrisdav.embassy@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2013 04:41:34 +0700 (ICT)
Subject: letter
THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD PACKAGE
FROM THE DESK OF MR. CHRISTIAN DAVIS
SENIOR OFFICIAL AGENT U.S EMBASSY
EMAIL: chrisdav.embassy@gmail.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER:+2348136121865
MY NAME IS MR. CHRISTIAN DAVIS, I WORKED AS AN OFFICIAL AGENT TO THE U.S EMBASSY FOR 15 YEARS AND ALSO AN AMERICA CITIZEN.
ATTENTION
I HEREBY USE THIS MEDIUM TO NOTIFY YOU ABOUT THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD PACKAGE ANYMORE I JUST RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM THE AIRPORT CUSTOM DEPARTMENT IN REGARD TO THE DELAY THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND THEY WILL RETURN YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD AND IT BACK UP DOCUMENT PACKAGE TO THE FEDERAL FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS UNCLAIMED PACKAGE IF ANY SIGN OF SERIOUSNESS IS NOT SHOWN.
MOREOVER, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH FEDEX THAT YOU SHOULD PAY ONLY DELIVERING OF YOUR CARD, WHICH IS $285 U.S.
DOLLARS BY FEDEX DELIVERING COMPANY.
I SENT AN UPDATE TO THE FBI AGENT MR. ROBERT AND ALSO TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY AGENT MRS. JANET AND I EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM.THEY PROMISE TO ASSIST AND MAKE SURE YOUR PACKAGE IS SHIPPED ONCE THE REQUIRED CHARGE FEE DELAYING THE SHIPMENT IS PAID WHICH IS $285 AND SHIPMENT WILL COMMENCE THAT SAME DAY VIA FEDEX DELIVERY WHICH WILL TAKE ONLY 24 OR 48 HOURS TO GET THE PACKAGE DELIVERED TO YOU.FEDEX DELIVERY SHIPPING FLIGHT WILL TAKE OFF TODAY BY 9:30PM SO
YOU NEED TO ACT FAST SO YOUR PACKAGE CAN BE SHIPPED TODAY.
NOTE: THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN THE VISA CREDIT CARD CONTAIN IS $5MILLION USD AND IT HAVE ACCESS TO MAKE WITHDRAW AND TRANSACTION WORLD WIDE WITH IT SECURITY CODE PIN WHICH YOU WILL USE.I KNOW YOU HAVE SPENT A LOT TOWARD THIS PACKAGE BUT YOU NEED TO ACT FAST SO YOU CAN REGAIN ALL YOU HAVE SPENT, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO TRY YOUR BEST AND COME UP WITH THE $285 SO THAT EVERYTHING CAN BE SETTLE FAST TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR PACKAGE TODAY AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST FEE I ASSURE YOU. USE THE DETAILS BELOW TO SEND THE $285 VIA WESTERN UNION SO THE CHARGE FEE CAN BE PAID TO ENABLE THE SHIPMENT.
RECEIVER NAME: MICHAEL OLELE UGO
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
TEXT QUESTION: URGENT
ANSWER: PURPOSE
MTCL NO:
ONCE PAYMENT IS MADE GET BACK TO ME WITH THE REQUIRED PAYMENT CONFIRMATION ON PHONE DETAILS LISTED BELOW.
SENDER NAME:....?
MTCN NUMBER.....?
SENDER ADDRESS....?
REMEMBER THIS IS THE ONLY FEE REQUIRED AND YOU NEED TO TRY YOUR BEST TO SEND THE FEE TO ENABLE SHIPMENT TODAY OK.AWAIT YOUR REPLY AND THE REQUIRED PAYMENT CONFIRMATION DETAILS. PLEASE YOU REALLY HAVE TO RECONFIRM THE FOLLOWING DETAILS BELOW.
FULL NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
OCCUPATION:
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION WHICH IS NEEDED.
REGARDS,
MR.CHRISTIAN DAVIS
EMAIL: ( chrisdav.embassy@gmail.com )
SENIOR OFFICIAL AGENT U.S EMBASSY
|
Anti-fraud resources:
