|
|
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.
- The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (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.
- 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.
- +27732761861 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- fredgezi_1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: fredgezi222 fredgezi222 <fredgezi222@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:58:41 +0000
Subject: REQUEST FOR URGENT
Bussiness Offer Of A Life Time/ Urgent Attention Needed.Mr.fred. First National Bank Ltd. Carlswald Branch
Midrand
South Africa
Compliment.Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr.fred Director of operations of the First National Bank Ltd. I have a Business Proposal of $24,500,000.00 for you to handle with me from my bank. Should you be interested please send me your full names, private phone/fax and current residential address and finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this operation.I want you to contact me as soon as possible To Get The Full Details And The Nature Of The Business. It Is 100% Legal And Risk free. I Await To Hearing from You. And I will prefer you reach me on my private email address below: (fredgezi_1@hotmail.com) +27-73-27-61861 I await your urgent response. Best Regard, fred gezi .
_________________________________________________________________
Get the next generation of Free Windows Live Services
http://get.live.com
Anti-fraud resources:
