|
|
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:
- 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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- revgodwinwilliam23@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: JAMES CARLO <officefile9885@cantv.net>
Reply-To: revgodwinwilliam23@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2014 16:35:04 -0430 (VET)
Subject: U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Cotonou Benin Republic.
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
Hello My Dear,
This is to notify you that your atm card has been in our custody waiting for your comply before the delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your atm card which TNT EXPRESS suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by US Department of State Bureau and requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the parcel before it will be released.
After the meeting held by our board of director which was concluded that the delivery of your parcel to your address must be complete within three working days upon your comply to our requirement which is by sending the sum of $85.00 to enable us obtain the needed certificate and effect with the delivery of your atm card immediately.
Note that your parcel has been arrived in US embassy here last week Saturday and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is given. So Contact us on our e-mail address bellow.
Contact person =Rev Godwin William
E-mail=(revgodwinwilliam23@gmail.com)
Contact Number +229 68555784
Mean while you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon
Contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
1, your full name
2, your home address
3, You’re Phone
Once you notify us with the above information we will release your parcel to you,
Note that you are expected to pay only $85.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it directly to our office in Benin Republic as the origination of your parcel in favors of Rev Godwin William as our accountant officer in Benin Republic, Send the $85.00 through western union or Money Gram once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of your parcel,
Receiver’s Name JOHN EJIKE
Country...Benin
City...Cotonou
Question. GOOD?
Answer...GOD
Amount...$85.00
MTCN............
Note that any unclaimed parcel will be return to TNT Company after 3 days.
So you are urgently advice to comply with our demand so that we will release your atm card.
Thanks and Remain Bless
JAMES CARLO
|
Anti-fraud resources:
