|
|
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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "service fee" (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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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.
- 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.
- officewesternunion047@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Rev Frank Kelvin <internationalmonetaryfunds66@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officewesternunion047@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2021 18:36:53 +0100
Subject: Attention Beneficiary ,
--
Good Day,
This is Rev Frank Kelvin, The Former United States Ambassador to
Republic of Benin,I came down here in Cotonou Benin Republic for an
ECOWAS meeting and I was searching for some files that I left in my
office before I left and I found out that you have not received your
funds yet. I asked the present ambassador Mrs. Lucy Tamlyn, what
happened that you have not received your fund since last year and she
said that you refused to pay the required fee for the delivery of your
ATM CARD.
I'm contacting you this morning because the director of the ATM CARD
center here in Benin Republic said that they will divert your ATM CARD
to the Government Treasury because you cannot pay for the service fee
of your ATM CARD which is $190.00 only according to them. But I told
them to wait until I hear from you today so that I will know the
reason why you rejected such amount of money $7.5 m which will change
your life just because of $190.00
I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and
explain to me the reason why you have abandon your ATM CARD because of
$190.00 But if you don't need it then I can change your name to
another person’s name so that the Government will not claim this money
This is where you should send the fee today or you can purchase any
GIFT CARD around you for urgent process on your delivery ok.
Receiver Name================= IFEOMA KALU
Country =====================Benin Republic
City ======================Cotonou
Text Question =============Urgent
Answer ===================Today
Amount =================$190.00
Sender Name ============
Mtcn ==================
I will wait to hear from you today with the mtcn number.
Please reconfirm your information such is.
Full Name===========
Home Address========
Country=============
Phone Number========
Nearest Airport======
Mr. Ellison Tomlod,
E-mail Address: officewesternunion047@gmail.com
United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
|
Anti-fraud resources:
