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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:
- "moneygram" (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 us 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)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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.
- westernuniontransfer962@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Llori Bryants" <officefbi660@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernuniontransfer962@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2022 04:53:26 +0100
Subject: Hello dear
--
Hello dear
This message is from Federal ministry of finance office under the (ECOWAS)
we are to let you know that We have finally concluded with
(ECOWAS) of Africa Republic to release your payment worth $3.5Million
US Dollars to you name through west MoneyGram which total payment going to
be receive each day is $5000 and First payment has been send blow
First #MTCN 41258095 but you have to (Re-new Your Payment File)
today before you will receive it
I told them to keep sending you $5000 daily until the payment of
$3.5Million US Dollars is completed paid to you now, again re-confirm your full
address to avoid sending payment to wrong persons so that they will be
sure;
let me know once you hear from him Please find below,your information
to pick up the first sent $5000 USD and upon pick up,another detail
we be sent again and I want you to track
https://secure.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/track you will see that the
money is there.
https://secure.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/track
Use the below info to pick up your money
MTCN ::::::::::#MTCN 41258095
Amount: $5000USD
Sender's Name::: Bel
Call +1(608) 9995782 once you are back from MoneyGram.
Please,email To the below
E-mail (westernuniontransfer962@gmail.com)
Telephone: +1(516)6366501
Contact me to give you Sender Name & text Question and Answer to pick
up your money today, and let me know when you confirm it all.
Regards
Mrs.Llori Bryants
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