|
|
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:
- "million united states 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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dubai Financial Services Authority" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sw0958359@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 May 2016 03:59:04 +0300
Subject: Good Day...
>From Desk Of WALEED SAEED AL AWADHI
Dubai Financial Services Authority
Logistics & Clearance Department
We want to use this medium to inform you that our correspondent bank in London England (HSBC LONDON) has issued a stop order to the diplomat that was suppose to deliver your consigntment valued ($15million united states dollars) to your address.Due to your failure to respond to our calls and mails put to you.
Kindly reconfirm back to us the following valid contact information,
Full Name:
Country:
Home Address:
Company Name:
Valid Id Card/Int Passport or Drivers Licence:
Valid Phone Number:
To enable us reschedule the delivery of your fund to your destination address.
Note that if no response is heard from your in the next seven working days, our correspondent Bank (HSBC LONDON) will have no option but to transfer your fund back to the states treasury here in Abu Dhabi Dubai.
We look forward to hear from you promptly.
WALEED SAEED AL AWADHI
Chief Operating Officer
Dubai Financial Services Authority
Logistics & Clearance Department.
|
Anti-fraud resources: