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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "million 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Terry Cool <"www."@able.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Terry Cool <markdove001997@outlook.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2017 19:06:36 +0900 (JST)
Subject: dear valued customer
dear valued customer
My name is Mr Terry Cool I am the manager of Western Union department in Bank of African ,I am here to inform you that a man came to our office this Moment this Sunday his name is John Ward he told us that he is your Brother living in London he said that you are dead accident about two months ago on your way going to work.
And before your death you told him that you have fund worth of $3.5 million dollars cost of $155.00 to receive the fund worth of $3.5 million and he came here with the $155usd dollars for the activation this your Reference Number:(REF):9929506889 pick up your first payment of US$5000,00. today If real you are dead may your soul rest in perfect peace AMEN,
But if you are alive please due call us or get back to us with the $155usd dollars activation fee of the (REF) Number 9929506889 today and pick up your first payment of US$5000,00 today okay. If I did not hear from you today with the activation fee then I will collect the $155usd dollars activation fee from MR John Ward and give him this information to starting pick your daily US$5000,00 Western Union office around
But if you still alive use this information pick up your first payment of (US$5000.00 next 2 hours after you send the $155usd right now) Here is the information to pick up your first payment track it now and go and pick up your first payment of $5000.00.
The money is ready to be picked up from a Western Union location. You can track it with the Last Sender Name.
https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/tracktransfer
Sender's name== UBA
(REF) Number 9929506889
Amount=US$5000.00
This the information to send the $155 dollars activation fee via Western Union transfer and receive your first payment US$5000,00 next 2 hours today and rested Mr John Ward for 419 and fraud to court
Receiver Name JOHN EDWARD .
Country ?.. Benin Republic
Cit------ Cotonou
Amount ?.. $155usd
MTCN ?..
Sender Name ?..
Sender Country ?..
Do have a wonderful day if you are alive but if you are dead may you soul rest in peace (AMEN)
Yours Faithfully
Mr Terry Cool
Director Western Union
Bank of African Benin Republic
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