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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- w.office@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS FAITH KARMAN <"amane996."@triton.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MRS FAITH KARMAN <w.office@mail.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2016 16:13:19 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT CONTACT WESTERN UNION YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5000.00 HAS
BEEN SENT WITH MTCN / FROM WESTERN UNION OFFICE
URGENT CONTACT WESTERN UNION YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $5000.00 HAS BEEN
SENT WITH MTCN / FROM WESTERN UNION OFFICE
The Board of federal ministry of finance (IMF) Benin Republic are
hereby to notify you of your payment inheritance funds of $4.5M Which
was Approved After the meeting held on 16th February 2015. His
Excellency the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN (DR. YAYI BONI)
has Instructed this Department to send your funds through western
union money transfer for easy receive of your inheritance funds
without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars
that is going on through Courier Company.The maximum amount you will
be receiving per a day starting from today is $5,000) Also your are
required by federal ministry of finance (IMF) Benin Republic to send
us the sum of $99.00 dollar. This is to notify all our customers about
the latest development concerning all the payment that are left in
our custody, which yours are inclusive. You where given a bill in
order to receive your payment of which we didn't hear from you for
sometime now.Hence, our Western Union is now offering a NEW YEAR
SPECIAL BONUS for the beginning of the year 2016 to help all our
customers that are having their payment in our custody due to of
prices. In order words we are now requesting that those involve should
pay only the sum of $99. 00 to receive all their payment abandoned
in our custody.
Besides, my dear, this is the opportunity for you reclaim your
abandoned fund and this fund will be transferred to your address
immediately we confirm this $99.00usd. But remember that after (7DAYS)
you did not make the payment then we will divert your funds to
Government Fund, to avoid problem or we will cancel the payment for
this year until next year because this year is APPROVAL already. Again
after SEVEN DAYS We will enter A new project for the year and that is
the reason why we decided to help all our customers before we enter
into the new project.So be advise to send the $99.00 immediately so
that we will register your payment and for you to start receive
$5000.00 as from Today. Be advise that there is no time again and we
After the payment of $99.00 you will start receiving your money every day
$5000.00 through Western Union Money Transfer until the full payment
of $4.5m is completely transferred to your name. So what you will be
receiving per day is $5000.00usd.and have ready sent you $5000 to you
to confirm us that everything concern the Bonus is through and after
you pick your first payment up your payment will be send to you $5000
every daily.
contact for release your first information// https://www.wu.com/BJ/en/track-transfer.html
Money Transfer Tracking | Western Union www.wu.com Use the tracking number (MTCN) to
find out where your Western Union money transfer is.
FIRST SENDER NAME::::::::::ABLAVI DA.
LAST SENDER NAME::::::COSTA
MTCN:::::::::::::::::::9628708260
TEXT QUESTION:IN GOD
TEXT ANSWER:WE TRUST
AMOUNT $5000
So Please make sure you re-confirm this following information stated
below; when you send the fee today Send the money through Western
Union Money Transfer with this information below:
Receiver name.............
Country....................
City....................
Test question...............
Answer...................
Tel phone...................
Age..........................
Here is information to send the request fee of Attorney sign Through
western union or money gram office .
Receivers name.....EMMANUEL UDEKWE
Country...........Benin Republic
City.............Cotonou
Text Question: How Long?
Tex Answer: 24hours
Amount..$99 Usd
Senders Name.
I am looking forward to have the MTCN NUMBER from you today, to
enable me Renew your name and send your payment information of $5000
for you and you will pick up the money and I will send you another
money tomorrow. It's continuous process.Hoping to hear from you.
We are looking forward to hear from you.
Thank you
Best Regard
DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
DIRECTOR .MRS FAITH KARMAN
E-mail : (w.office@mail.com)
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