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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:
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- paymentcenter84@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Elena Olga" <paymentcenter141@gmail.com>
Reply-To: paymentcenter84@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2019 12:47:00 +0200
Subject: From Office Of International Financial Service Kharhiv Ukraine
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From Office Of International Financial Service
Kharhiv Ukraine
We wish to bring to your attention that this is from the of
International Financial services Ukraine and we are compensating all the
scam victims sum of â¬3,700,000.00 Euros each and you are among the lucky
beneficiaries so as it is now there is Four option which you have to
choose one to receive your fund from our office here in Ukraine and the
following options are
1. Through Bank to bank wire transfer through National bank of Ukraine
2. Through Atm master debit card
3. Through Cash delivery to your home address as consignment box.
4. Through Bank Draft Check
So you have the four listed option to receive your fund, So once you
choose one then we will process on that from Ukraine here and you will
receive your fund immediately without any further delay within 48 hours.
But finally The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine or NSDC
made it mandatory that all the beneficiaries will obtain the FUND ORIGIN
TAX PAYMENT APPROVAL from them which will cost â¬300.00 Euros and you
will send it to Ukraine here through western union Or Moneygram money
transfer, So Your urgent response is needed now to provide you the
receivers information here in Ukraine and your full details is required
as such
Your name:......
Country:........
City:..........
Address:.......
Occupation:......
Sex:.............
Marital status:......
Age:.........
Phone Number:.......
Kindly contact the director Mr. Michael Moore with this WhatsApp number
+380-963-820-419 Email at ( paymentcenter84@gmail.com )
Best Regards,
Mr. Elena Olga
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