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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:
- 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:
- "dear friend" (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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- westernunionoffice4573@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Blessing.D.Peter" <interpolpolice386@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernunionoffice4573@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2022 00:39:02 -0800
Subject: 1.14.147.108
Dear Friend,
I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 USD
through Western Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer
your full compensation payment of USD$10.5million dollars via Western
Union by the Nigerian Government as compensation to you for being
defrauded by It's Citizens.
I have sent you three emails containing the information for pick up,
in the space of two weeks and no response from you.
This email contains the senders name and also the MTCN.Please get this
information and locate any western union office closest to you for
immediate pick up,so as to enable us expedite action in sending
another 5000.00 USD as you are aware that we will be sending you
5000.00 USD until the entire amount is completed. Do call the Western
Union Agent Mr.John Mark once you pick up the first installation and
he will be sending your second payment today. You can also track your
first payment via this website to confirm the availability of your
payment, https://www.wu.com/MZ/en/track-transfer.html
Rv Peter Jesus
Email: westernunionoffice4573@gmail.com
Here are the information for pick up of the first 5000.00 USD
You can track your mtcn here https://www.wu.com/MZ/en/track-transfer.html
Senders Name: Noah Wheeler
Mtcn: 0379678085
The Western Union Agent Rv Peter Jesus
Thanks
Mrs.Blessing.D.Peter
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Anti-fraud resources: