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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- 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: "Mr, Hikmet Ersek" <ekeneike105@gmail.com>
Reply-To: lewdrjack@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2021 01:40:17 -0800
Subject: YOU'RE PAYMENT OF $5000.00 USD DETAILS
I am Mr, Hikmet Ersek Director of western union office and your total
amount in western union here is $15.5 Million dollars and amount you
will start pick up twice every day to your name is $5000.00 usd so i
want you to Contact me urgent through this number +16505231180 text
me message or you will call me if you want to start pick up this your
first payment to your name today and before you will start pick up
this your funds here you will pay for transfer changes ,so Below
is the mtcn numbers which you will use to pick up the first payment of
$5000 you will start pick up within 4 hours time so once you got this
my email reply back to me urgent with your full information ,
Your full name ..................................
Home address ..................................
Your country..................................
Your city..................................
Telephone..................................
Occupation..................................
Your Age ..................................
YOU'RE PAYMENT OF $5000.00 USD DETAILS
Sender's Name: Arben Isufi
MTCN ...Number..743-642-4496
Question ... Time
Answer ... 4hrs
Amount ... $5000.00
Regards,
Mr, Hikmet Ersek
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