Spam 419/Nigeria Online fraud jwSpamSpy Contact
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Beware of Fraud: eBay purchase for Nigeria using BidPay (Western Union)
- Fraud: Car buyer with large cashier's check
- Fraud: Bike seller uses bogus escrow service, Western Union
- Overseas Horse Buyer Scam
- Fraud: mailorder shipping to Nigeria
- ALABA STREET, MUSHIN, LAGOS
- "Tawa Enterprises" - attempted $98,600 fraud from Lagos, Nigeria
- officelineworld.com - Be careful with orders from Nigeria!
- Nigeria fraud: "Cresford SuperStores"
- About "419" scams
The following scam targets eBay sellers, who may be tricked into shipping goods to Lagos, Nigeria without any payment. First the criminal contacts the seller (usually via a new eBay account, often registered in Singapore) and offers a high price for an item on sale. He or she will request that the item to be shipped to Nigeria via a parcel service (FEDEX, DHL, UPS, EMS) and explains that the buyer will pay via "Western Union Auction Payment (Bidpay)". This is a legitimate company, but that doesn't matter in this case, because it's not actually involved.
The way the scam works is that the seller is told the money will only be released by Western Union / Bidpay when the buyer supplies a tracking number, i.e. when he has already shipped the parcel. To get the seller to ship the parcel, the criminal himself poses as Western Union, sending an email from a free webmail service to the victim using an email address which mentions Western Union or BidPay, for example "onlinebid-pay@accountant.com" or "westernunionmoneyorderpayment@banknotes.com", assuring the seller that Western Union has received payment from the buyer and will release it as soon as he submits the tracking number as proof of shipping. A seller believing this message to be sent from Western Union will lose his merchandise and the shipping costs.
Another variant is a fake PayPal payment notification sent by the criminal. Unless a PayPal payment shows up in your actual PayPal account you have not received money! MoneyGram is also mentioned in some scams involving eBay articles to be shipped to Nigeria.
In yet another variant of this scam, the buyer will provide a real Western Union Money Transfer Control Number (MCTN) to the seller, which can be checked on the Western Union website. However the buyer will not tell the seller who sent the money, thereby making it impossible to receive those funds. It's like showing someone a wad of dollar bills but not handing over the money.
We have received reports from buyers who backed out of Nigerian mail order deals who received threatening emails supposedly from the FBI but actually sent via a free webmail address (e.g. "w.u_fbi_investigation@public.usa.com"). The scammers told the sellers they were being investigated by the FBI for fraud for not shipping the goods to Nigeria. Don't let yourself be intimidated, contact the police if you have any doubt!
If you receive a fake Western Union / BidPay or PayPal message, look at the email address this was sent from (for example, westernunionmoneyorderpayment@banknotes.com or onlinebid-pay@accountant.com) or any addresses of a "BidPay agent" to contact for questions. If you take this address and replace the left part with the word abuse you get the email address to which to forward such scam emails (for example, abuse@banknotes.com or abuse@accountant.com). Ask the email service to suspend the email account used for this fraud.
See below for examples of such scams. If you have received any such offers, send us copies. Please mark the subject line:
[419] Lagos: eBay
Here is an amusing letter that shows how to creatively deal with such scammers:
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Example notification (from "bedfordsuperstore"):
Here is another one by the same scammer:Dear seller, I really want to buy this item and i need a seller who is ready to sell,i will be paying 750euro for this item and you will ship it to my client in Nigeria. (1)I will be paying you by western Union Auction Payment(Bidpay). (2)You will ship the item by FEDEX,DHL,UPS,EMS. (3)You will ship the item to my client immediately you recieve my payment approval from the western union. If you agree with these stated terms,send me your full name and address so that i can go to the western union office immeidately to make payment for the item. please please scammers stay off!!!!!!!!!! Robert Dallas
dear seller, i want to really buy this item and i want you to ship the item to my client in Nigeria. i will be paying 600euro for the item and i want you to calculate the shipping cost and the item price together. i will be paying with Western Union Auction Payment(bidpay) and i want you to ship the item via UPS,FEDEX,DHL OR EMS. you will ship the item to my client immediately you recieve my payment approval from western union. if you agree with these terms,send me your full name and address for immedaiate payment at the western union office. Scammers keep off Dallas Robert
When contacted by email (bedfordsuperstore@nyc.com) the scammer replied:
Dear seller, Immediately i go to the western union office to make payment for the item,they will send you a notification that my payment has been approved and they will send you a number which you will use to rack your money,the payment will be delivered to the address you will provide. And once you have track your money and you have seen that your money is confirmed then you will give me the tracking number to the item. Or would you like it if i pay you by MONEY GRAM? If you still want to sell to me send me your full name and address so that i can go and make payment for the item as soon as possible. Hope to hear from you soon. Visit New York City online. Special offers on hotels, shops, attractions, and more. Plus FREE @nyc.com or @newyorkcity.com E-Mail! http://www.NewYorkCity.com http://www.NYC.com
Here is the fake "Western Union" money notification which is actually sent from a free webmail account instead of from Western Union:
Dear B. E. Trueger, Bidpay®Online Payments hereby congratulates you and also want to inform you that the ® Money OrderSM sent to you from Robert Dallas has been Approved. Item information ®Money OrderSM :750 EUROS Auction Item :Keyboard YAMAHA PortaSound Model PS-3 Auction site : Ebay Seller Contact Address: Name: victimname Addresses: victimstreet postal code: victimzip city: victimcity country: victimcountry Identification Number: 42-782-719.M Shipping information Via DHL: NAME:SEGUN ABIODUN ADDRESS:25,ABIMBOLA ODUNSI STREET,OFF COKER RD ORIMOLADE BUS/STOP,IFAKO,OGBA CITY:LAGOS COUNTRY:NIGERIA This money order has been approved and will be sent out TODAY to the address provided by the buyer and you should expect it in 4-7 business days after postage has being confirmed. You CAN NOW send the items to the buyer,Moreover the above ® Pin Number will be asked for before the delivery of the Money OrderSM, you will also identify your self with your ®drivers licence or your ®Social security number. N.B NOTE THAT THE MONEY ORDER WILL NOT GET TO YOUR RESIDENT IF SHIPMENT TRACKING NUMBER IS NOT SENT TO US IN THE NEXT 24HRS FOR SHIPMENT VERIFICATION IN OTHER TO SECURE BOTH THE SELLER AND THE BUYER. And if you have any question, feel free to contact our customer service at (westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com). TO CONFIRM YOUR PAYMENT CLICK BELOW https://netsage.finali.com/netsage?customer=wuap&iid=esell-appr& num=22813469&status=appr&date=20050330country=UK If the Link above does not work: Type in or copy and paste this link into your Web browser,Make sure you copy this link exactly and do not add extra spaces. Thank you for using Western Union ® Online Payments. We look forward to serving your online payment needs in the future. Sincerely, Western Union Online Payments.
More instructions from the scammer:
Dear seller, I have paid for the item and i know by now you should have recieve my payment from the western union. I want you to please remove the invoice of the item when shipping it and also you should declare the item as a EASTER DONATION. Also you shouldnt write down the exact amount of price i bought the item from you,This will reduce the rate of custom charges when the item get to my client,they wont charge him much. And also i will like you to give me the tracking number for the item since your money has been approved. Hope to hear from you soon and also to do more business with you.
From: <westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com>
To: emailaddress
Subject: APPROVED MONEY ORDER(8180658433 ) REPLY TO THIS EMAIL
Reply-To: westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com
X-Mailer: SeeqMail 4.0 (authenticated
westernunionbidpayment@personalmanager.com)
X-Origin: 213.181.81.125
X-Uidl: 1112178921603078762
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 02:35:21 -0800
WHOIS details for sending network (IP 213.181.81.125):
inetnum: 213.181.64.0 - 213.181.95.255
org: ORG-BL4-RIPE
netname: NG-BROADBANDTECH-20000327
descr: BT Limited
descr: PROVIDER Local Registry
country: NG
admin-c: IO243-RIPE
tech-c: IO243-RIPE
status: ALLOCATED PA
notify: bt@micro.com.ng
mnt-by: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-routes: BT-LIMITED-MNT
mnt-lower: BT-LIMITED-MNT
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20000327
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20001003
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20010507
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20010704
changed: lir-help@ripe.net 20011214
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20020419
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20020423
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20020613
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20030211
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20040406
source: RIPE
organisation: ORG-BL4-RIPE
org-name: BT Limited
org-type: LIR
address: BT Limited
address: 8B Ademola Street,
address: Off Awolowo Road,
address: S. W. Ikoyi,
address: Lagos, Nigeria.
phone: +234 1 2693192
fax-no: +234 1 2693192
e-mail: bt@micro.com.ng
admin-c: IO243-RIPE
admin-c: IO243-RIPE
mnt-ref: BT-LIMITED-MNT
mnt-ref: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
mnt-by: RIPE-NCC-HM-MNT
changed: hostmaster@ripe.net 20040415
source: RIPE
person: Israel Oyeleke
address: BT Limited
address: 8B Ademola Street
address: Ikoyi S.W.
address: Lagos, Nigeria
phone: +234 1 2673532
fax-no: +234 1 2673203
e-mail: i.oyeleke@moneynett.com
nic-hdl: IO243-RIPE
notify: i.oyeleke@moneynett.com
changed: ifiok@btlimited.com 20010605
changed: ifiok_moses@yahoo.com 20030917
source: RIPE
GOOD DAY SELLER,
HOW ARE YOU DOING,I WILL LIKE TO CONTINUE THE PURCHASE YOUR ITEM,I AM READY TO PAY FOR THE ITEM AND INCLUDING THE SHIPMENT COST OF THE ITEM SENDING IT THROUGH UPS OR FEDEX, I AM BUYING IT FOR MY FIANCEE IN NIGERIA AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT, AS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE THERE DUE TO THE DISTANCE, WELL AS FOR THE PAYMENT I WILL BE PAYING THROUGH WESTERN UNION BIDPAY. BECAUSE I AM A REGISTERED BIDPAY MEMBER AND I HAVE BEEN USING IT FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS IT'S VERY SECURED, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIDPAY ACCOUNT THERE'S NO PROBLEM, THE PAYMENT WILL PROCEED IT'S NOT COMPULSORY THAT THE SELLER HAS AN ACCOUNT. SO I WILL MAKE THE PAYMENT THROUGH BIDPAY AS SOON AS I GET YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS,YOU WANT FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR MONEY BY THE BIDPAY AGENTS. THEY BIDPAY WILL SEND A PAYMENT NOTIFICATION TO YOU AS SOON AS THE PAYMENT IS BEEN DEDUCTED FROM MY ACCOUNT. SO LET ME HAVE YOUR INFOS ASAP WITH THE TOTAL COST OF THE ITEM AND SHIPPING TO MY FIANCEE. AND HERE IS THE SHIPPING ADDRESS I WANT YOU TO SHIP THE PACKAGE TO IN NIGERIA ONCE YOU GET YOUR PAYMENT.
Name------- MAT AZIZA
Address-----No.4,Sunday Oyawoye Street off Isuti Road
Oremeji Bus stop Egan town.Igando
City---------- Igando/Lagos
State-------- Lagos
Country---- Nigeria
Zipcode-----23401
REGARDS.
Message headers:
Received: from [81.199.84.22] by ws5-1.us4.outblaze.com with http for 1richkid@fastermail.com; Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:20:55 +0800 From: "Richard Black" <1richkid@fastermail.com> To: emailaddress Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:20:55 +0800 Subject: eBay-object: IBM THINKPAD R51 Model X-Originating-Ip: 81.199.84.22
WHOIS details for sending network (IP 81.199.84.22):
inetnum: 81.199.84.0 - 81.199.87.255
netname: CIDR-COMMUNICATION-01
descr: Internet service provider
country: NG
admin-c: TECH7-RIPE
tech-c: TECH7-RIPE
status: ASSIGNED PA
mnt-by: AS12491-MNT
source: RIPE # Filtered
person: Tech Supernet300
address: 21 Mobolaji Bank
address: Anthony Way Ikeja
address: Lagos
address: Nigeria
phone: + 234 1 4976493
e-mail: admin@supernet300.com
nic-hdl: TECH7-RIPE
source: RIPE # Filtered
See abuse contact list for whom to notify of criminal use of such email addresses.
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biolaadewale_3@yahoo.com (Apr 21, 2005) Receiver Name: BIOLA ADEWALE. Shipping Address: No 16 Ojoo Road City: Ibadan State: Oyo State Postal Code: 23402 Country: Nigeria
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derek williams (derek3@fastermail.com, May 11, 2005) abbey akintunde 11 adejobi street oke koto agege lagos 23401
- Bidpayaccounts@etn.org (Janet Colman):
SHIPPING INFORMATION: Name : Tunde Collins. Address : No,58 Old Lebanon Street Dugbe City : Ibadan State : Oyo State Zipcode : 20001 Country : Nigeria
- western_union_approved@publicaccounting.com
Other accounts: consultpinglee4bidpays@accountant.com,
cynthia4westernsocitiesp@consultant.com
Fraudster: "Jane Maria" (janemaria@usa.com, hollargydey@yahoo.com)
Name::::Olajide Durosomo Shipping Address::Jakande estate blk 94 flt 4 oke-afa City:::::Isolo State::::LAgos Country:::Nigeria Zipcode:::23401
- rev_scottbarcaley@yahoo.com
orderbybidpay@writeme.com
c/oNelson Brown
Match Ministries
333, Emmanuel Osakwe street
Egbeda,Lagos
Nigeria 23401
234-8045294954
- bidpay.customercare@ny.com
- From: "Western Union" <bidpay@westernuniononline-bidpay.com>
JOHN CHUCKS 69 NEW LAGOS ROAD, NEW BENIN, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA.
- PROF KOH HON
From: PAYMENT@WESTERNUNION.COM <westernunionworldwideservice@businessconnection.com> To: emailaddress Subject: Delivery Notification **Order WS3803**Reply Needed Reply-To: westernunionworldwideservice@businessconnection.com X-Mailer: SeeqMail 4.0 (authenticated westernunionworldwideservice@businessconnection.com) X-Origin: 80.179.103.162 X-Uidl: 1119026358856927404 Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 09:39:18 -0700
Fake PayPal payment notifications from Nigeria
A similar scam exists where a fake PayPal payment notification is sent from a free webmail account to the seller.
See abuse contact list for whom to notify of criminal use of such email addresses.
Example:
- Email address: paypalcashaccountapproved@business1.com
- Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 21:50:52 -0700
- Sending IP: 192.116.123.7
- Credit card expiry date: 2/2005 (i.e. expired)
- Credit card billing address: Pennsylvania, USA
- Shipping address:
Name :Tobi Olafioye Address :25 Abimbola odunsi street City : Ifako Ijaiye State : Lagos Zipcode : 23401 Country : Nigeria
- Customer suport: Paypalcashonlineapproved@accountant.com
Fake PayPal payment notification:
- Email address: service@paypal.com <paypalconfirmation2@consultant.com>
- Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 08:01:58 -0500
- Sending IP: 81.199.243.131
- Amount: £4,440.00
- Credit card billing address: Pennsylvania, USA
- Shipping address:
Idowu Adeleke Address: #17 folarin street, mushin, lagos state, Nigeria, 23401.
Fake PayPal payment notification:
- Buyer email address: mammal@patmail.com
- Fake PayPal email address: paypal_customer_care@mail.com
- Shipping address:
Name :Waheed Imran, Address : N0 10 Olubunmi Ibitoye Street Ososani Oke-Ado, City : Ibadan, State :OyoState, Country : Nigeria... Zipcode : 23402....
MoneyGram scam:
- Email address: andy stomson <andystomson@yahoo.com>
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Received: from [81.199.6.131] by web60723.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Tue, 24 May 2005 03:01:00 PDT Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 03:01:00 -0700 (PDT) From: andy stomson <andystomson@yahoo.com> Subject: my order (urgent reply )
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receiver's name : muse alala address : block 122 flat 6, l.c.h.e, oke afa, isolo , lagos , nigeria , city : isolo state: lagos zipcode: 23401 country : nigeria receiver's name : akanji bamiwa address : block 218 flat 4 l.c.h.e oke afa isolo , lagos , nigeria , city : isolo state: lagos zipcode: 23401 country : nigeria
Here is an amusing letter that shows how to creatively deal with such scammers:
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