|
|
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:
- "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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Western Union Remittance <abc12343188@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Western Union Remittance <www.westernremittance@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 21:12:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Re: Treat Very Urgent
Your Attention Please?
We write to inform you that after our Board of Directors meeting this morning with the Ministry of Finance we have concluded to release your overdue payment wroth US$1.5 Million through our service Western Union and we are officially agreed that you will pay just US$87 for RE-ACTIVATION of your FILE .
Meanwhile once after RE-ACTIVATION you will start receiving your payment US$15,000.00 on a daily basis until your fund US$1.5 Million completely transferred based on our agreement with the Ministry of Finance therefore we will split your US$15,000.00 payment into three MTCN/Ref US$5,000.00 each as that is the limit amount we can transfer to you every day.
Nevertheless I am Mr. Edward John the New appointed General Manager Western Union Legal Affairs Benin Republic and I want to use this opportunity to apologize for the delay and any inconvenience caused you by the old management of this company and I wish to assure you that with your good understanding my office will put everything in a place.
Therefore be advice to send the fee in care of our agent Mr. Pete Ibia through our service Western Union OR Money Gram with the bellow information:
RECEIVER NAME: ===== PETE IBIA
COUNTRY: ====== BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY: ======= COTONOU
SECRET QUESTION: ==== COLOR
ANSWER: ====== YELLOW
AMOUNT: ===== $87
Note your transaction will commence as soon as your FILE is re-activated follow our agreement with Ministry of Finance so try your possible best to comply with us within two working days or else we will return your file and your payment will be confiscated.
PLS FORWARD THE FOLLOWING DETAILS TO US ONCE YOU WIRE THE FEE.
MTCN/ REF#
Sender's Name
Your Full Address
We are waiting your your immediate actions.
Yours Sincerely
Sir Edward John
+229 9317 2364
General Manager Western Union
|
Anti-fraud resources:
