|
|
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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Atanda Musa" <movementdelay@gmail.com>
Reply-To: atanda_musa1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2013 00:49:01 +0700
Subject: Syria War
Dear Friend,
Good day to you and your family, My name is Engr. Atanda Musa writing from Damascus Syria. I'm top Government official and controller Al Furat Petroleum Company (AFPC) the leader in the region in Reservoir Management AFPC which was established under Service Contract no. 210 ratified by Law no. 43 of 1977 and named as per decree-law no. 12 in 1985. AFPC is a joint venture company between the General Petroleum Corporation (50%) and private shareholders Syria Shell Petroleum Development (SSPD) etc…
I contacted you for mutual understand due to crisis in Syria at moment, there is an account with Syria Gulf Bank belonging to AL Furat Petroleum Company (AFPC) which I and the bank Manager are in collaboration to transfer out of Syria and it have been agreed that after the transaction he the Bank Manager will set the office on fire to avoid any trace
If you are willing to handle this transaction in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefits, because this opportunity may not come our way again I will use my position and the Bank Manager will also use his influence in the bank to make sure there will be no trace after the transaction.
meanwhile we have in secret communication with Manager Union Commercial Bank Cambodia (UCB) as all transaction will be transact through their online transfer to avoid any trace after the transaction .
I will be waiting your urgent reply
Atanda Musa
|
Anti-fraud resources:
