|
|
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:
- 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. )
- 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.
- petermaxwell952@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Peter Maxwell <"www."@gaea.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Dr Peter Maxwell <petermaxwell952@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2017 09:45:37 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention;The owner of this email id.
Attention;The owner of this email id.
This is to officially inform you that your (ATM Card
Number:::4278763100030014) has been accredited in your favour.Your Personal
Identification Number is (2900).Your ATM Card Value is $12.5MILLION USD.You
are here by please advice to contact the ATM card payment managing director
Mr.John Larry, With Details Below:
Contact Person: Mr.Peter Maxwell
Contact Email: petermaxwell952@gmail.com
we found out that your Fund is lacking an important document of ownership
which cost you $105 so Here is the accountant information where to send the
fee
Receivers Name: Jerry Obi
Country: Benin Republic.
The fee is payable via western union or money gram
so Fill the form below and ask Mr.Peter Maxwell to activate your ATM card
on your name
for us to proceed once you send the fee without delay.
FULL NAME:...................
DELIVERY ADDRESS:............
PHONE NUMBER:................
COUNTRY:.....................
OCCUPATION:AND POSITION......
SEX:..........
AGE:...............
waiting for your response.
Regards,
Mr.Don Williams
|
Anti-fraud resources:
