14 DAY TRIAL // 419 scams, or advance fee scams, are not new. They’re the schemes in which the crooks tell potential victims that they’ve won, or that they can make large amounts of money with little to no effort.
The goal is to trick victims into paying a certain fee that’s allegedly needed to complete the transaction. Some have reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because the scammers kept asking for more after each payment.
Similar to all online schemes, advance fee scams evolve. Currently, experts say the crooks have started cloning Facebook accounts to increase their chances of success.
Hoax Slayer provides a dialogue between a potential victim and a scammer who has cloned the Facebook account of one of the victim’s friends.
Take a good look at the conversation. If one of your Facebook friends contacts you about an easy way to make money, treat the offer with maximum suspicion, even if everything appears to be legitimate.
Here is the dialogue between the scammer, posing as Rick, and the victim, Jason:
“Scammer posing as Rick: how are you doing am sorry for me resending you a friend request it is just that i got a trojan virus on my old profile so this is my new account now
Jason
I am doing good and no problem with the friend request.
Scammer posing as Rick:
Okay and Did you heard about the good news on facebook about the Ceo of facebook founder Mark zuckerberg ??
Jason
no I didn't
Scammer posing as Rick:
The promotion was made to some facebook user in other to benefit from them its a randomly picked of profile on facebook and get $50,000.00 did you get yours from them ???
Jason
nope
Scammer posing as Rick: UPS delivered the money to my door step. I saw your name on the list with the shipping company agent , so I thought I would see if you have gotten it yet ? i mean facebook is giving out the money for some randomly selected users for compensating all users.
I think you should contact the agent in charge is online here add him on FB via this link for better chat (link removed) can message him and tell him that a friend told you about these and you are here to claim your money
Jason: ok tks
Scammer posing as Rick:
I'm very Happy cause when i receive the money from him i payed off my old bills and save the rest into my bank account and i want you to do the same likewise i did, cause i think is part of life time. opportunity don't miss use it. Get in the touch with the agent as quick as you can
Jason: ok will do tks again.”