|
|
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:
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- officefileunit2022@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Cecelia Henry" <info@usa.net>
Reply-To: officefileunit2022@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2022 07:05:14 -0700
Subject: Contact Mr. James White For Your Payment.
Attention Beneficiary
I am Mrs. Cecelia Henry, from IMF Head Office here in Benin Republic, that the Government of Benin realized you are among those that's involved in a scam victim we have their list to Compensate by our government through the instructions of United Nation (UN) after the conference meeting held yesterday and we have arranged the compensation payment sum of US$1,500.000.00 (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) to be sent to you through western union money transfer payment.
The Director of Administrator Trust Funds (ATF) has already signed your payment and you are to contact Western Union Head office to ensure them start transferring the fund to you once you provided the necessary requirements below to avoid any mistake in transferring the fund to you. According to the demands of WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE here in Benin Republic; you are to receive your fund at the installment rate of $3,750.00 twice daily until the sum of US$1.5Million is completely transferred to you accordingly. So kindly contact the Western Union Director now with the information below to them to start transferring your payment immediately.
Full Name:
Telephone Number:
House or Office Address:
Your Country/State/ city:
Marital Status/Age/Sex:
A Copy Of Your ID Card/ Passport:
Listen very carefully, tell Mr. James White that you are advised to contact him by Mrs. Cecelia Henry from IMF Office here in Benin Republic with the Contact Information below.
Director Name: Mr. James White
Email: officefileunit2022@gmail.com
Telephone: (+229) 9194 7764
Please, do not forget to update me as soon as you start receiving your payment and Also ask them HOW MUCH it will cost you for the activation fee.
Best regards.
Mrs. Cecelia Henry.
IMF Director Benin.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
