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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- pcourf@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Van Udo." <mmg---1@att.net>
Reply-To: <mgudo1@voila.fr>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:55:08 -0800
Subject: Hello Dearest Friend.
Hello Dearest Friend,
I knew this will come to you as a surprise. I am glad to inform you and your family that I have successfully concluded the transaction which I seek for your family and you before. Now the money has been transferred to South Korea through the assistant of Mr. Hui Lee, who is a business man base in South Korea. Currently I am in South Korea now with him and my family.
However, I want you to know that we still have good people in this world. I have mapped out a Compensation fund to you an ATM MASTER CARD worth of US$1.5Million. I left the ATM MASTER CARD with a PRIVATE TRUST COURIER SHIPPING COMPANY. I would like you to contact Private trust courier, with the below information and instruct them where to send the ATM MASTER CARD to you.
Person in charge: Mr. Jim Mat.
Email: pcourf@yahoo.fr
Tel Phone: +234 803 88 215 86
Please call him on Phone after you sent him a mail.
As soon as you receive the ATM MASTER CARD you let me know because I am busy here trying to put things together and may not be chanced to email you frequently. Feel free to contact them for your ATM MASTER CARD. I will stop here. Once again, thank you and your family very much and remain blessed.
Best Regards,
Mr. Van Udo.
Re: Your compensation fund.
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