|
|
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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "consignment " (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)
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "courier service" (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.
- diplomaticexpresscomp@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr galadima Yakubu <mrgaladimayakubu@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: diplomaticexpresscomp@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:58:54 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: ATTENTION /DEAR BENEFICIARY.
ATTENTION /DEAR BENEFICIARY.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN PAID AND I HAVE RECEIVED MY SHARE .I LOADED THE SUM OF $3.5MILLION IN CONSIGNMENT BOX IN YOUR FAVOR AS YOUR COMPENSATION .I DEPOSITED IT WITH DIPLOMATIC EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE NIGERIA.
BE ADVISE TO CONTACT DIPLOMATIC EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE NOW FOR THE DELIVER OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX TO YOU BECAUSE I,M OUT OF COUNTRY NOW FOR MY PROJECT I HAVE AT HAND.LISTEN I HAVE PAID THEM FOR THE DELIVERY FEE.
REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE DIPLOMATIC EXPRESS COURIER TO ENABLE THEM DELIVER IT TO YOU AND TO CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON TO DELIVER THE BOX TO.BELOW IS THE INFORMATION YOU WILL SEND TO THEM.
YOUR FULL NAME=========
YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS====
YOUR CURRENT PHONE NUMBER===
YOUR COUNTRY=========
AGE AND SEX==========.
HERE IS THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION.
DR VICTOR IBEH.
PHONE NUMBER+2347032244548
EMAIL(diplomaticexpresscomp@yahoo.co.uk)
HERE IS THE SECRET CODE OF THE BOX(040R) AND KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL TO AVOID ANOTHER PERSON SEEING IT EVEN THE DIPLOMATIC EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE DIRECTOR.DO LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR CONSIGNMENT.GOOD LOCK.
BEST REGARDING
MR GALADIMA YAKUBU.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
