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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: MR JOE WILLIAM <"WILLIAM...."@guitar.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "ofile3742@gmail.com" <ofile3742@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2017 18:56:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: D H L COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
D H L COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
DHL COURIRE DELIVER COMPANY
BENIN REPUBLIC
54/OPPOSITE GREEN HORSE HOTEL
AKPAKPA COTONOU BENIN
Hello Beneficiary ,
This is to acknowledge the reciept of your application after your agent who deposited your consignment with this company.Note that all the necessary delivering arrangement of your consignment have been concluded here in our company and your consignment will be sent to your home address as soon as you reconfirm possible.
However we want to notify you that your consignment's security deposit fee is $40 USD and you are advised to send the fee through western union.
send the security deposit fee of $40 USD immediately you receive this email. to enable us ship your parcel to your destination tomorrow morning.
Here is our accountant name address informations where you will send the fee through western union Or moneyGram.
Receiver's Name......EMMA MMABIA
Country Name.........Benin Republic
City.................Cotonou
Text Question.....How Long
Text Answer.......48Hours
Amount............$40
MTCN.................
Sender Name.........
Finally we are waiting to receive the security fee to enable us send your parcel to your address and give you the DHL shipment tracking number details so that you will track your parcel and know the arrival date time of our agent to your address over there in your country.
Try your best today and send the money because all necessary arrangement regarding the delivery of your parcel has been finalized and our agent will take off by 9:30am tomorrow morning to your country.
Yours in service,
MR JOE WILLIAM
DHL COMPANY MANAGER
BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
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