|
|
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:
- 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. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "postoffbenin@outlook.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. MBONU OBINNA" <tinner95b@gmail.com>
Reply-To: postoffbenin@outlook.fr
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2017 00:20:16 -0800
Subject: FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN.
FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN.
FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN.
POST OFFICE ADDRESS: BARNES ROAD P.O BOX12720.
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
postoffbenin@outlook.fr
Date: 29/05/2013
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY :
HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE IS AN ATM CARD IN THIS OFFICE THAT IS
DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BODY ON THE 15TH OF LAST MONTH.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT AND IS TO BE POSTED TO YOU. WE
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR CONFIRMABLE ATM CARD
WHICH CONTAINS THE SUM OF USD $1.500,000 ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDREND
THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS AND SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS.
SO KINDLY GET BACK TO THIS OFFICE (REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN
REPUBLIC) TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS SERVICE.
YOU ARE TO CONFIRM AND PROVIDE TO US YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS BELOW.
YOUR FULL NAME..........
YOUR COUNTRY............
YOUR CITY...............
YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS.....!
YOUR DIRECT PHONE........
NOTE: THAT YOU ARE TO PAY FOR THE DUTY STAMP FEE OF $98 USD. YOU ARE
ADVISE TO SEND THE DUTY STAMP FEE THROUGH MONEY GRAM OR MONEY EXPRESS
TO THE POST OFFICE WITH THE OUR PRACTICAL OFFICER'S NAME BELOW AND
FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO THE POST OFFICE IMMEDIATE STAMP OF
YOUR ATM CARD.
RECEIVER'S NAME......ANTHONY EGBOKA
COUNTRY.....BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY....COTONOU
QUESTION....HOW LONG
ANSWER.....TODAY
AMOUNT......$98 USD
SENDER'S NAME........?
NOTE: THAT EVERY CLAIMS HAS AN EXPIRYING PERIOD OF SEVEN WORKING DAYS
(7DAYS) SO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT VERY URGENT TO AVOID EXPIRATION.
THANKS
YOUR BEST REGARD'S,
MR. MBONU OBINNA
|
Anti-fraud resources:
