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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: MR PETER SMITH <"WWW."@pony.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MR PETER SMITH <diplomatic_agent6492@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2017 23:18:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: UNITED STATES POST SERVICE
I'm From UNITED STATES POST SERVICE Diplomat MR PETER SMITH I have
been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to
inform you about my successful arrival in your Country with your two
boxes of consignment worth of $5 Million Dollars which I have been
instructed by Mr warren buffet to be delivered to you.
The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to
prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud
money, I have presented the papers I handed it over to them and they
are very much pleased with the paper’s I presented but the only thing
that is still keeping me here in the Airport is the Delivery int`l
transfer permit certificate which is not placed on the boxes, one of
the Airport Authority has advise that we get the Delivery permit so
that I can excite the airport immediately and make my delivery
successful.
I try to reason with them and they stated the Delivery international
transfer permit certificate will cost us just $150 Dollars only to get
the international transfer permit certificate placed on the boxes as
that permit will enable me get to your house successfully without any
interference, they scanned the boxes and found out that the fund is
100 % spend able and accepted by any bank in the whole world also the
vat fee .
SEND IT MONEY GRAM URGENT RESPOND NOW IS NEEDED
RECEIVER'S NAME:..
COUNTRY:......................
STATE ..................
CITY ....... ............
AMOUNT$150
Please try and reach me call or send me text now with this my number
as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other
delivery I have to take care of in Netherland and other countries. I
will provide you the papers backing the funds together with my ID CARD
as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund
successfully with these papers. I have 1 more vital paper with me but
I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that
it is the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
Best Regards,
MR PETER SMITH
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