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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:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "georgedesmondng01@msn.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: George Desmond <georgedesmondng01@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: georgedesmondng002@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:52:32 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: LATEST DEVELOPMENT ON HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR MONEY
Dear Beneficiary
This is to let you know that the Federal Government of Nigeria has decided that all payment owed any foreigner should be paid immediately by check/or by ATM card.
This check/ATM card will be delivering to you by me by hand. I want you to confirm your name and address immediately to me to avoid making any mistake while I am on my way to your country.
Note that the bank will carter for half of my airline ticket to and fro and you and I will carter for the balance.I have no other expenses to make as regard picking up the check/ATM card from the issuing bank that is the Central Bank of Nigeria.It is an international Certified Bank Check/ATM issued in your name and it is valid in the USA and Europe.on what ever you
have choosing to be paid with.Please do not ignore this email as you are one of those that has suffered for a very long time to receive some part of your money but could not because of one reason or the other.
No more certificate is required no more upfront payment is required to receive your check. I shall be with you in your
country until the check is cleared or your ATM cashed immediately from your bank before coming back to Nigeria. Please note that the total amount in the check/ATM card is the sum of $1,175.063.00.This is as a result of the interest your check.ATM has incurred for a very long time.
I wait for an urgent response to this email. You can also respond to this my email below:make sure you respond to this email below thank you.
emal:(georgedesmondng01@msn.com)
Best Regards,
George Desmond
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