|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "lagos" (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: "Rev Fr. Mark Ajoku" <fbi.investigation005@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officefileusa8@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2021 05:28:39 +0100
Subject: GOOD NEWS AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Stone City, SD 57216, United States.Attention Honorable Beneficiary.This is
Big Stone Bank South Dakota Director. We are here to inform you that we
have set up an online account to your favor and deposited Fifteen Million
Dollars on your behalf as part of your compensation Approved by World Bank
for the covid 19 pandemic.We are going to give you password to login to
this account so you can withdraw from your account or transfer money to any
private account of your choice in the World but it will cost you only but
$950usd only to activate your online account so you can have access to your
money and account as soon as possible. For more details we advise you to
send the fee $950usd by Western Union or Money gram office to the official
cashier's agent appointed by the UN Organization name stated below.Receiver
Name: Doris Chiamaka IheboroReceiver Address: Lagos NigeriaAmount:
$950usdonlySenders Name:__________Senders Address:_____________Senders
Phone No:____________SincerelyRev Fr. Mark AjokuBank Director*
|
Anti-fraud resources: