|
|
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:
- "insurance 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. )
- "security keeping 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. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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 Nelson Bless <hellohi738@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Mr Nelson Bless <ups.customercare@vf.vc>
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:04:13 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: UNITED POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE
 Hello Dear,How is your Family today?
I have Paid the delivery fee for your Cheque $2.5million today but the manager of Continental Bank Benin told me that before the Cheque will get to you that it will expire.So i told them to cash it in cash so that you cannot lost it because of your delaying and all the necessary arrangement of to delivering the box was made with UPS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY LIMITED today.
ATTN: SIR.FREDRICK SANCHEZTEl: : +229 618 057 45EMAIL: ( ups.customercare@vf.vc)
So they only need their premium Security Keeping fee and Insurance fee of $185.00 to Conclude the delivery to your door step and means that is only payment you have to pay to received it from them, Dont be Decive by anybody and This is the information they need to deliver your Truck box package to your address. Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .Thi
is what they need from you.
1. YOUR FULL NAME2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.3.YOUR COUNTRY4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER.5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE.6.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid mistake on the delivery.I gave them your delivering address but you have toreconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivering including with your ID or Picture.Hoping to hear from you as soon as you receive the package box contains $2.5MILLION .
SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZSPACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01 Note.
The UNITED POSTAL SERVICE COMPANY don't know the contents of the Box.I registered it as a Box of an Africa cloths. Theydon't know it contents $2.5MILLION. don't let them know that is money that is in that package Box. Thanks and God bless you and
your family.Mr Nelson BlessBest Regards
|
Anti-fraud resources:
