|
|
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. )
- "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. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- 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.
- westernunion328@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION <"www."@ace.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION <westernunion328@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2017 06:26:16 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IS AVAILABLE TO PICK UP AT WESTERN UNION OFFICE
OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD
OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU
YOUR FIRST PAYMENT IS AVAILABLE TO PICK UP AT WESTERN UNION OFFICE
I write to inform you that we have already sent you USD5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of USD90,000.00 via western union by the WESTERN UNION US government.
Here is your first payment but it is place on hold by the management of the western union and you not be able to pick it up untill you reconfirm your details..
MTCN NO:::::::::::::::::::2264614785
Sender's first name:::::::::::::::: Raylene
Surname::::::::::::Romaniuk
NOTE;your payments is place held by the WESTER UNION until your details have been reconfirmed with the sum of $50USD and is to be sent to the WESTERN UNION so you can be able to receive your payments..
HERE IS THE INFORMAION TO SEND THE YOUR PAYMENTS.
2.RECEIVER NAME:...Francis Emeka
3.COUNTRY:.......... Benin Republic
4.CITY :................ Cotonou.
5.TEXT QUESTION:.....GOOD
6.TEXT ANSWER:......NEWS
7.AMOUNT:..............$50. 00 USD
8.MTCN NUMBER.......
WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE TO ENABLE THIS OFFICE KNOW YOUR ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PAYMENT. YOU CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON +229 6045 7967 OR EMAIL US (westernunion328@gmail.com)
|
Anti-fraud resources:
