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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- 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.
- benjaminwilliam.mg@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR Benjamin william <"WWW."@rose.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR Benjamin william <benjaminwilliam.mg@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2017 09:27:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: BE ATTENTION
Attention please
This e-mail is to inform you that we the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD World Bank) had meeting with the United Nations & Benin Republic Government representative regarding the payment of your long awaited fund and we had an agreement with them that the remittance of your fund should be carried out through MONEY GRAM OFFICE You have been approved to be paid Ten Million five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($10.500.000.00 U.S.D) only. Your fund of Ten Million five hundred thousand United States Dollars has been forwarded to Money Gram Payment Center for immediate transfer to you. Your payment will be sent to you by Money Gram, the amount you will receive per day is $7,500 usd (Seven thousand Five Hundred Dollars Per Day )The Director Money Gram Payment Center of Benin Republic will send you the current standards track details you need to pick up your $7,500 usd payment by Money Gram.
AND DO NOT FORGET TO SEND ACTIVATION FEE OF YOUR FIRST PAYMENT BECAUSE WITH OUT THE FEE YOUR FIRST PAYMENT CANNOT PICK UP YET WHICH IS $150 USD only.
You will receive every day till you receive the total sum of $10.5 million United State Dollars, through this Money Gram which is safe and reliable with less cost. The Director Money Gram Payment Center has already signed your payment, now you are free to comply with Money Gram payment office.
Director//:Mr Benjamin William
Mobile//:+229-986-484-91
Email// (benjaminwilliam.mg@yahoo.com)
The Money Gram Payment Center has been mandated to issue out your payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person(s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note that the Director payment needs these details from you to process your payment:
DATA:
(1) Receivers Full Names.................
(2) Country/City..............
(3) Sex...............
(4) Txt Question..............
(5) Txt Question..............
(6) Your Phone...............
Yours
In-anticipating co-appropriation
Mr Benjamin William
Secretary of money gram office here in Benin
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