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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:
- "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- ",500,000" (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)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "garrywhiteclaims@windowslive.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
Fraud email example:
From: "UK INTERNATIONAL DRAW HEADQUATER" <info@winners.org>
Reply-To: garrywhiteclaims@windowslive.com
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:41:44 -0400
Subject: FILE FOR CLAIMS
UK INTERNATIONAL DRAW HEADQUATER
NATIONAL LOTTERY TOWER
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
Ref No: UK/9420X2/68
Batch No: 074/05/ZY369
DEAR LUCKY WINNER,
This is to inform you that your email was selected for a cash prize in the UK
INTERNATIONAL EMAIL DRAW held 14TH,FEBRUARY 2010 in London Uk. Your email has
won you £1,500,000.00 Great British Pounds.
TO file for Claims, Contact
Claims Agent; Mr Garry White.
Email; garrywhiteclaims@windowslive.com
YOU ARE TO INDICATE THE OPTION SUITABLE FOR YOU IN RELEASING YOUR FUNDS.
1. BANK TO BANK TRANSFER.
2. DELIVERY BY CERTIFIED CHEQUE
Provide the information below;
1.Full Names:.... 2.Address:.........
3.Sex and Age:............ 4.Country:.............
5.Occupation:.......... 6.Phone no:........
7.Release Option:....
Regards
Mike Vilasma
UK LOTTERY BOARD
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Anti-fraud resources: