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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:
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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: Mr Don William <ofe.fl03@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Mr Don William <w.unio11@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2015 15:04:56 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA MR.RUBEN
MOUSSA
FROM HEAD QUARTER POLICE STATIONZOGBO COTONOUINSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICEBENINREPUBLIC WEST AFRICAMR.RUBEN MOUSSA]TELEPHONE: +229-68-450-337. Attention; My Name is Mr. Ruben W. Moussa the inspector general ofpolice Benin Republic, This is to inform you that the government of thiscountry Benin Republic are sending you the sum of $2.5millions of dollars whichyou have lost in before because you have been waiting to receive it from RoseLarry, We got her arrested today. The government is rewarding these funds as one of the scamvictim. We where able to get your email through those that extortmoney from you when the police got them arrested , One of them gave us youremail address who called his Name Johnson Kuta. The president of this country His Excellency Mr. Yayi Bonihas sent aside the sum of $2.5millions of Dollars in consignment to send to youthrough Dhl Courier Company. We thereby have made a concrete arrangement with the DHLCourier Company for a safe delivery to your door-step once thebeneficiary meets up the demand of the conveyance. Note that all the delivery fee has been paid on your behalf.But you are advise to send only $65 dollar immediately to our office for your clearancecertificate because our agent will proceed to Du' Benin High Court first thingtomorrow morning so that he should get the certificate before your consignmentwill leave this country. The DHL Courier agent will use the certificate to obtain thetransaction. So you advice to contact inspector general of police BeninRepublic Office immediately with your full information for delivery of your consignmentand also to enable our office confirm that you are the real owner of this Emailaddress to avoid any mistake. Your Full Name.......Your Country........Your City............Your Telephone Number.The Amount You Lost....Your Passport..................Your Age............................
Contact our Office with this information below for more information and for quick deliver of your consignment.
Here are the STAMMERS that were arrested and Johnson Kuta isalso here now Below is where you can send the $65 to our protocolofficer.
Receiver's Name...... James Oguguana
Country...............Cotonou Benin RepublicText Question..........We trustAnswer.............In our GodAmount.$65Mtcn.......Your senders country.............Your senders name................. God bless.Mr. Ruben Moussa
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