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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- depts_payline@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "F.B.I" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:54:18 +0200
Subject: CONTRACT NOTICE
Attn:
Fedral bureau of investigation (FBI) recently had a meeting with the National Bank Of Egypt in the person of Mr.Ahmed Nasir Abideen and his publicist Mr. Donald Charles Miller alongside some officials from the organization regarding your overdue payment which ought to be released to you early 2010. After a random deep pick, you have been certified by our global authorities to become a beneficiary to receive the sum of 5,000,000.00 (Five Million Dollars) allocated to you from American gorverment in order to eradicate poverty and the ongoing Global financial crises.
National Bank Of Egypt will be in charge of initiating transfer of your fund when your file has been forwarded to their office. You are further advised to contact immediately the office of National Bank Of Egypt with the below information's accordingly:
Name: Mr. Donald Miller (Financial Secretary)
Office Address:24 sheriff street Cairo, Egypt.
E-mail:depts_payline@accountant.com
Tel: (+2) 0114470699
Fax: (+2) 0114533245
FBI is monitoring the services of National Bank Of Egypt with due process of law and order as the paying bank of your inheritance; we assure you that this inheritance awarded to you is free from any irregularities and it is completely risk free.
Thank you very much for anticipated Co-operation.
Best regards
Paul V. Letterman
Head of Operations
Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI)
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Anti-fraud resources: