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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- wucare.westernunion03@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "WUcare.westernunion" <@raspak.com@atlantahomeinnovations.com>
Reply-To: wucare.westernunion03@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2022 11:43:19 -0500
Subject: NOTICE!! NOTICE!!
Dear customer
Your first payment of $5,000.00 has been sent today via Western Union and
it have been available for pick up. You're being advised to Contact Thomas
Parkland's office with your recipient details to enable them furnish you
with the Senders Name, Question and Answer to pick up your first approved
$5000. Track your with your refrence number at the western union tracking
portal with..
Reference# (9664037936)
Contact Director Thomas Parkland by email( wucare.westernunion03@gmail.com
) he will keep sending you your payment until your total fund of $7.5
Million dollars have been sent to you completely.
Note: The $7.5 million fund was your compensation funds from the United
States embassy and the European nations for all scammed victims across the
United States and all European countries. your email address was selected
among the lucky beneficiaries to receive this legitimate fund.
So please reconfirm your current details immediately. Kindly send the
below requested information to Thomas Parkland's email address as he will
be in charge of sending your daily funds via Western Union.
Your home address.................
Occupation................
Any valid ID?
Phone Number............
CONTACT Thomas Parkland's office
EMAIL ADDRESS: wucare.westernunion03@gmail.com
PHONE: [+1 206-429-7344]
WE AWAIT YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IN OTHER TO START PROCESSING YOUR FIRST
DAILY PAYMENT OF $5,000.
WE AWAIT YOUR PROMPT REPLY.
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