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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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Faith Anderson" <www.m-mihara@eos.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Faith Anderson" <moneygram55525@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2017 12:12:07 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear valued customer
Dear valued customer
Information reaching us from our corporate headquarters now, states that you
only have 48 hours to effect payment for the activation of your (REF)#:
88054659 to enable you cash up your first $6500:00 from your total (fund) since
you are finding it difficult to make this payment we have decided that you are
to go ahead and pay whatever you have for the activation fee since you are not
able to come up with the required sum $150, time is of the essence here.
You are to pay what ever you have for the activation fee; we will activate your
(REF)#: 88054659 upon receipt of this payment. the chairman of the Money Gram
say that before you pick that $6500:00 (REF)#: 88054659 you must pay any amount
you have at hand for the activation fee
Here is the information to pick up your first payment track it with the Last
Sender Name which is-
https://secure.moneygram.com/track
Money Reference Number (REF):88054659
Sender's Last Name: UBA
Be informed that you will have to pay the balance sum of your activation upon
cashing up of your first $6500:00 USD, also I am using this medium to inform
you that failure to pay the balance sum will leave us with no option but to
deactivate your (REF) of which you will and can never cash up the balance sum I
want you to send the renewing and activation fee with the Information bellow.
So use this name and Address of our Accountant officer to send any Amount you
have at hand out of listed amount bellow,
1.receiver's name:...John Ada
2.country:.........Benin Republic.
3.city :...........Cotonou
4.test question:....when?
5.test answer:.....Now
6.sender name Address.....
7.Any amount you have
Send it through MONEY GRAM Or Western Union send us the (REF) number or MTCN
number immediately you send the money and immediately we confirm the activation
fee we will release your first receipt of your $6500:00 today or tomorrow
morning, God be with you and your family thank you,
The total amount of your fund is $4.5Million USD.
Mrs.Faith Anderson
OPRATION MANAGER.MONEY GRAM
DEPARTMENT PHONE NO..+229 68551261aa
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Anti-fraud resources: