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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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: "Date: Monday" <"www."@oregano.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Date: Monday" <westernun0889@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 03:54:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Dear
Attention Dear, i just receive your email some minutes ago , However am currently in Texas International Airport USA with your ATM CARD worth $10.8 Million Dollars which I have been instructed by DHL Express Courier Company to be delivered to you,
I will be proceeding to your home address and deliver but before that you have to complete your financial obligations, cause there is a situation here in the airport, the airport authority is demanded for airport clearance certificate which must be obtain in your name before i can exit the Airport to your home, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the clearance certificate from the fund origin through our cashier department so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful to your home.
I try to reason with them but they persist we must obtain the certificate on your name before they can allow me to proceed and the airport clearance certificate will cost only $285 Dollars only to get the document placed on the packages as that documents will enable me commence to your home and deliver as soon as possible without any harassment from the authority .
All you need to do is to direct the clearance certificate fee to our Cashier Department as they will get it for you and they are entitled to receive and obtain any documents from foreign countries authority.
Below is the information where the payment of $285 will be transfer to our cashier department for them to secure the required certificate in your name to enable me proceed to your home immediately.Here is the receiver information’s.
PAY THE MONEY THROUGH MONEY GRAM OFFICE OR WESTERN UNION OFFICE
RECEIVER’S NAME========== Rollins Samo
COUNTRY=========BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY======COTONOU
AMOUNT……………$285
SENDER'S NAME
MTCN#=========
Send me the payment information as soon as you made the payment available to the name of Rollins Samo at our cashier department to enable proceed immediately the certificate is obtained
To ensure safety please don’t ever mention this transaction to anybody no matter how close or trusted you think the person might be to you to avoid jeopardizing this transaction until you have received your ATM CARD. Furthermore, be informed that delivery will be made to your doorstep.
REGARDS DIPLOMAT Mr. Jerry Matins
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