|
|
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. )
- 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: "Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <rochelle.christocol@barid.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:25:34 +0100
Subject: Re: offering a Special BONUS. Get back ASAP.
This is to notify all of you about the latest development concerning all the payment that are left in our custody which your are inclusive. Besides, your were given a bills in order to receive your payment which we didn’t hear from you for sometime now.
Hence, our Western Union is now offering a Special BONUS to help all our customers that are having their funds in our custody due to large transfer charges imposed by our formal director which made you not to receive your total funds.
In order words we are now requesting that those involve should pay only the sum of 53 Euro to receive all their payment abandoned in our custody, this is the opportunity for you to received your all your funds before the offer close, But remember that after (5DAYS) if you did making this payment your inheritance fund shall be diverted to Benin Government federation account or it will be cancelled in accordance with our constitution 1995/1996, note that if you could not comply with the above payment your fund will be cancelled for this year until next year 2017 because this year is not like last year.So kindly get to us so we can give you the infos to make the payment aong with your bank account or details where the first payment of 10,000.00 Euro will come to you for this Xtmas Bonus from Africa Government for compensatinf all the scam victim pass Years. Thank you.
The Appropreciate Office.
You can call this line +229 621 86 077.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
