|
|
joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
|
|
"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:
- "% of every payment" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- "petersmith101@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "The Arts & Crafts Home" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <petersmith101@live.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:23:26 -0700
Subject: The Arts & Crafts Home company needs immediate opening
The Arts & Crafts Home company needs immediate opening for a part-time
book-keeper/Finance Co-ordinator to join our team.
You do not need to have an office & this certainly won't disturb
any-form of work you have going on at the moment.
We need Responsible, Legitimate & Trustworthy Persons to work as
FINANCE CO-ORDINATOR to assist us in processing & handling payments
from our
customers & we offer a very attractive remuneration package & good
carrier prospects.
JOB DETAILS:-
1:- Upon verification of your application & found satisfactory, your
contact details shall be given to our clients in your vicinity in
respect of their further payment which will be cashed by you at your
bank
2:- Contact us as soon as payment is received by you. An instruction
shall be given to you further on how to get the funds to our company.
3:- Your Remuneration shall be 15% of every payment received.
4:- A good customer relationship is expected from you.
* The average monthly income is about $4000.00
* No form of investments from you.
* This job takes only 1-2 hours per day.
These are legitimate transactions between our customers & our company
representatives over the years & there is no legal risk as these are
payments for art-works already bought & delivered.
Upon good conduct, you are eligible to be a permanent staff of The Arts
& Crafts Home.
Prospective applicants should forward the following info to petersmith101@live.com
1.Full names
2.Phone number/fax
3 Full physical contact address(NOT P.O.Box)
4 Valid email address
Note:- ANYONE BELOW 22 YEARS OF AGE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OFFER.
Warmest Regards,
Peter Smith
Human Relations Officer
NOTE :- ANY FORM OF IRREGULARITY OR FRAUDULENT ACT WOULD NOT BE
CONDONED
|
Anti-fraud resources:
