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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "wunion820@yahoo.in" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "wunion820@yahoo.in" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: MR CHARLES FEENEY <judemark787@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wunion820@yahoo.in
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 05:57:32 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR FUND OWNER.
ATTENTION DEAR FUND OWNER.
This is to inform you that we have already sent you first payment of
$5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the
mandate to transfer your full over due payment total sum of $2.5
million dollars, via western union by the Ministry of Finance. I tried
reaching you on phone to give you all the information on phone but I
couldn't get through.So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender
name so that you can pick up the $5000 .00 dollars to enable us send
another $5000.00 dollars today as you know we will be sending you
$5000.00 dollars only per day. And it was agreed that you will pay the
transfer clearance certificate which is sum of $166.00 dollars before
the release of the payment to you, take note of this that you will pay
the $166.00 dollars before picking up your first payment.
Please pick up this information and locate any western union around
you to pick up the $5000.00 dollars and call the Operation Manager
Mr.Charles Fenney.because he is the person in charge of your payment,
and he can send you another payment today once you contact him,
E-mail:(wunion820@yahoo.in) contact him once you receive this alert
today after you have paid the $166.00 dollars before he will release
the Question and answer to you today.
Below is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00 dollars
which you will be receiving daily after you sent them their transfer
clearance certificate of $166.00 dollars and it will serve as
re-confirmation of your payment file in their office.
Here is the Senders Information;
(M.T.C.N):8655196501
Senders First Name: David
Senders Last Name: Keck
Amount :$5000.00 dollars
Here is the receivers informatiom
So if you want to track the money and confirm if the funds is
transferred enter our website
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global then
click tracking and enter the mtcn number? 8655196501 Enter senders
first name?David.Enter senders last name..Keck and click tracking and
it will show you that your funds is available for you to pick it up.
They will be waiting to hear from you with the transfer clearance
certificate payment of $166.00 dollars today,And you can use this
below information to send the transfer charges today.
Receiver Name....Joseph Ejike
Country------ Benin
Your.Question----In god
Your. Answer-----honest
Sender's Name----
Mtcn-------------?
Be advice that $166.00 dollars is for the transfer clearance
certificate and is compulsory as they told me that is the only money
you will pay until you receive your payment completely. Endeavor to
E-mail your direct telephone number because you will be called once
the payment information is sent to you.reconform your details bellow
to know that i sent this to the right person.Your urgent email is
needed so that we can go ahead and release your money.Get back to me
.
Your Full name:............
Mobile Number:.............
Address:...................
Country:...................
Regards
MR CHARLES FEENEY.
Email; (wunion820@yahoo.in)
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