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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "security keeping fee" (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 us 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)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- dhlexpressbj@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Jane Andersen <denn.denn@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: dhlexpressbj@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:10:59 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: DEAR FRIEND,CONTACT DHL COURIER IMMIDIATELY
Dear Friend ,
I am very happy to inform you that I have been able to work out a new way to which you will receive this your funds as parcel and as it may interest you to know I have been able to get in contact with a Diplomat who is going to deliver the parcel to your door step and as I made the plan he will be delivering a parcel to you and the content of the parcel will be your funds in total of $1.8Million us dollars as it was before although I did not revel to them about the content of the parcel because I simply told them that the content of the parcel is your personal belongings/ family valuables,
Listen your Funds is still with us but we have deposited your funds as parcel for the delivery. Remember your fund will be registered as family valuables for security reasons under security monitoring department with a seal on it for security reasons according to the management of the despatching company this afternoon he said that You can find their code number by side of the parcel there is a place on it they will write ( 0118 ) when you open it through that side you will see the code to open it so contact and call the delivery company today on this information below,
Contact person:David Brown ( Director )
Company Name: Dhl courier company ( DHL ).
Email: ( dhlexpressbj@hotmail.com )
Tel/Fax +22998179596
Note that Your fund as parcel will be register as family valuables with code ( 0118 )
At this point I wish to know your readiness to receive your fund as you will be required to reconfirm your receiving address once more so that I will make sure that I gave them your correct address to avoid any mistake about the delivery they told me that you will be required to pay for the Security Keeping Fee of the parcel for a little rate amount of money which will only cost you ( $85 dollar.)
KINDLY RECOMFIRM YOUR FULL INFORMATIONS FOR THE DELIVERY.
Your Full Name................
Your Home Address..............
Your Country...............
Your current Phone Number ..............
Your Cell Number...............
Also I want to remind you that no body will tamper with the parcel until it gets to your destination waiting to hear from you soon about this and dont fail to indicate your direct and current phone number as well.
Thanks
Mrs Jane Andersen.
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