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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Jobs" <jobs@bookcentre.ca>
Reply-To: westernunion970@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:49:46 -1200
Subject: GOOD DAY
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin republic. Are here to
notify you of your payment inherited funds of $6.3M.000. After the meeting
held on 31th of January 2014. the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN
His Excellence DR YAYI BONI. Has instructed this Department to send your
funds through western union money transfer for easier receive of your
inherited funds without any further delay. To avoid paying money to the
fraud stars that is going on through the global. you are required to send
your address were you want your fund to be send to you through western
union money transfer, the maximum amount you will be receiving each day
starting from
Tomorrow is the sum of $5000.00. Also your are required to send us the sum
of $180.00USD, for re-newing and reconfirming your file that was deposited
in this office with your name and address bellow.
Here is what we required from you, fill in the blanket with your current
full information𠏋.
Beneficiary full name------
Address--------------------
City-----------------------
Direct Telephone------------
Fax------------------------
Contact with this information𠏋 below:
CONTACT PERSON: MR Anthony Robert
E-mail:
Telephone: +229 688 75104
Email us As soon as the required fee of $180USD, was send today for the
renewing and reconfirming the payment file of your funds you will start
receiving your funds as from tomorrow. Send the $180.00USD, through
western union.
HERE IS OUR PAYMENT INFORMATION㷧 WHERE TO SEND THE REQUIRED FEE.
Receivers Name...FRANK OSEMEKA
Country... Benin Republic
City.......Cotonou
Text:..............When
Answer:............Today
Amount:..........$180.00USD
We wait to receive the western union payment information𠏋 as soon as
possible information's.
Yours in service
Hon, Richard Collins Ben (ESQ).
MINISTER OF FINANCE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
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