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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:
- "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. )
- "huge amount of money" (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.
- 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: "Mr. Jus Frank" <"www."@theia.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jus Frank" <jusfrank@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:09:38 +0900 (JST)
Subject: THIS IS FROM MONEY GRAM OFFICE.
Attention: My Dear
THIS IS FROM MONEY GRAM OFFICE.
Call here Cell Phone; (864) 729-5587. immediately you receive this email.Information reaching us from our corporate headquarters now, States that you only have 48hours to effect payment for the activation of your MTCN to enable you cash up your first $5000 USD from your total (fund) because the federal government has released some amount of U.S.D to settle the people which they have scam before, But before catching up your first found you have to activate your MTCN And activate your MTCN upon receipt of this payment of our Assistant Accountant officer, I'm the Money Gram agent CONTACT ON ;(864) 729-5587
Here is the information to pick up your first payment of $5000 through MoneyGram store close to you but the only thing delaying now is the Activation of your payment files so that you will start picking up your daily payments due to the huge amount of money that involves
Note that you will be receiving your daily payments of $5000 USD everyday till you receive your total funds of $2.5 million USD completely
Money Reference Number (REF): 820 193 38
Sender's First Name: Jim
Sender's Last Name: Nze
MTCN:# 820 193 38 (Track the MTCN by visiting:::::::::https://https://secure.moneygram.com/track
Details needed,YOUR
(Receivers name)............
(Address)................................
(You’re Age)............................
(ID copy)............. ..................
NOTICE: To text or call this office for any question.
Sincerely,
Name: Mr.Jus Frank
Manager Director for MoneyGram.
Office Tel: +1(864) 729-5587 Text or Call SMS!.
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