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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- 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: Western Union Transfer <humanitarianantiscammissionari@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunion.department@citromail.hu
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2022 03:23:47 -0800
Subject: Very Urgent From Western Union Money Transfer
Send Money World Wide From The Desk of The Western Union Money
Transfer Office 316 S.Adams st.#3 Jerome Idaho,Republic of Benin
Department Remittance Bank transfer world Wide.
Congratulation To you Beneficiary
We have registered your Western Union Bonus first payment of $5000
online through this department Western Union Money Transfer. The
payment is Available to pick up by you MTCN 4420429799, to nearest
Western union office in your city now
Western Union wish to inform you that The International Monetary Funds
Governor have ordered Western union Republic of Benin to send your
Bonus as part of compensation, PLEASE COPY OUT THE PAYMENT DETAILS AND
MAKE SURE YOU ALSO TRACK IT ON THE WESTERN UNION WEBSITE BELOW TO
CONFIRM THE MONEY IS REALLY SENT AND WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AS SOON AS
YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH ME . TRACK IT WITH HERE :
https://www.westernunion.com/global-service/track-transfer
Sender's Name: Mirna Damary
Amount is $5000.00 usd
Money Transfer MTCN 4420429799
You are instructed by this office to send the International Money
Transfer Services charge of $95.00 usd to clear your process For you
to easy pick up the $5000.00 usd at any nearest Western union office
in your city now, We are not authorized to deduct a cent from the
payment due to the comprehensive insurance cover against lose on
transits.
No body has right to deduct or reverse your mode of payments because
it is fixed by tax force office until you pay the International Money
Transfer Services charge of $95.00 usd to reveal the code then send,
You must pick up the $5000.00 usd immediately MTCN 4420429799,
Yours Sincerely
Mrs Mirna Damary
Foreign Operation Remittance Director
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