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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Office File <leefile1978@yahoo.co.th>
Reply-To: Office File <servicewealth-unit@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 23:33:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention. To The Recipient
Attention. To The Recipient
We the monetary affairs of Usa embassy of rep Benin discovered that you have not been paid for your past won, inheritance funds from the west African corrupted bank and individuals: Or have you received your fund? The USA Embassy and I.M.F decided to cash the $1.5 Million US dollars and install into an ATM card to use that means of payment to refunds all the American citizens who had lost their hard earned money to the African and west African corrupted banks, lawyers /attorneys and diplomats.
So kindly reconfirm your information to expedite on delivering the Platinum Visa: -card Atm card to you. Thus: Your full names⦠Your home address... Your cell phone number... Your identification card copy.
Yours In Service,
Mrs. Helena Browan.Assistant Secretary of U.S Embassyin Benin State for African Affairs
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Anti-fraud resources: