|
|
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:
- 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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- agentmark255@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mark <fbidirector455@gmail.com>
Reply-To: agentmark255@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2021 15:55:54 -0600
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary,
--
How are you, Hope all is fine. We the MONEY GRAM office are here to
inform you about the transfer of your total fund which you have been
suffering for years and up till date you have note received it from
the MONEY GRAM Offices and other fake offices Claiming to be the
real one.
So be informed that your fund is now ready in MONEY GRAM to be
transfer to you which you will be receiving $5000 per day until your
total fund of $8Million complete. After our meeting today we
concluded that your first payment will be sent to you today so fell
free to comply with this office. Main while you are to Reconfirm the
information bellow and forward it to our department for the transfer
to take place immediately.
Full Name.......
Country...........
Direct Phone......
Home Address.......
City..........
Occupaton............
Mar Bel..................
Mar Bel................
MTCN..........41258095
Note that after confirming your INFO the only money you will send is
$100usd been the Renewing of your File from (I.M.F. Office) with
information Bellow so that we can proceed for the transfer of first
payment immediately.
Looking forward to hear from you after the payment and be informed
that F.B.I is now awear of this transaction and they are now monitoring
you so if you contact any office without this MONEY GRAM Department
office you will be caught by the F.B.I and here your CODE (MG066) any
office that contacted you without using this Code as a Subject Do Not
Reply it and be forwarded to us.
Contact email......agentmark255@gmail.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
