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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "uba_africard@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "uba_africard@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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: Susan Sebion <sebionsusan@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: Susan Sebion <uba_africard@admin.in.th>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 22:49:02 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Immediate compliance highly needed notification only valid within
72 hours!!
FROM UBA BANK BENIN REPUBLIC
Branch: Head Office: 270 Ozumba Mbadiwe
Avenue Apkapka, Cotonou:
Director, AFRICARD Atm Debit Card / Telex Dept
Our Ref:ZNB /Republic Of Benin /998/13
Attention:
FROM UBA BANK BENIN REPUBLIC YOU MUST NOT FAIL TO GET BACK TO US SOON AS YOU READ THIS! e-mail:Â ( uba_africard@admin.in.th )
My name is Mrs.Susan Sebion I am the manager of ATM department in UBA Bank Benin republic, am here to inform you that a man came to our office this morning his name is Mr. Ben Clopper he told us that he is your brother from your country he said that you are dead.
Mr. Ben Clopper said that you die two weeks ago in a car accident on your way going to work and before your death you told him that you have an ATM CARD worth of $2.8million dollars and he indicated his awareness of the
$103 dollars the activation fee of the ATM card signaling his readiness to pay the fee and collect ATM CARD as your only next of kin.
I know this email may seem ridiculous but I must ensure this funds is not handed over to the wrong person that is the essence of this notification, which is only valid within the next 72 hours. If really you are dead may your soul rest in perfect peace AMEN, but if you are alive please due call me on this +229 -6836 -2882 and get back to me via email ( uba_africard@admin.in.th ) for confirmation.
If I did not hear from you after 72 hours of this notification then I will collect the $105 dollars activation fee from Mr. Ben Clopper and hand the ATM card over to him okay.
Below is the information to send the $105 dollars activation fee via
western union money transfer OR MONEYGRAM.
Receiver Name Emmanuel Nweker
Country Benin Republic
City Port-Novo
Text Question Yes
Text Answer Alive
Amount $105 usd
MTCN
Sender Name
Sender Country
Do have a wonderful day and I pray God keep you alive but if you are dead may your soul rest in peace (AMEN)
Yours Faithfully
Susan Sebion
Director AFRICARDS Atm Debit Card / Telex Dept.
UBA BENIN REPUBLIC
FROM UNITED BANK of AFRICA
BENIN REPUBLIC
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