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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:
- "cost of transfer" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: mr ssaan <mr_ssaan016@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mr_assan00000@yahoo.fr>
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 07:34:53 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY FROM MR ASSAN IBRAHIM.
DEAREST PARTNER,
I MAKE THIS APPEAL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY
FACTS OR OPINION EXPRESSED BY ME ARE GIVING IN
CONAFIDENCE AND SOLELY FOR YOUR PERSONALINFORMATION
AND USE.
I AM MR.ASSAN.THE MANAGER OF BILL AND EXCHANGE AT THE
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT OF MY BANK. IN MY
DEPARTMENT I DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF
(22MILLION) WITH ACCOUNT NUMBER 14-2558-5976 THAT
BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG
WITH HIS WIFE AND ONLY DAUGHTER IN A PLANE CRASH OF
ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT NUMBER 261 WHICH CRASHED ON 31
JANUARY, 2000. YOU SHALL READ MORE ABOUT THE CRASH ON
VISITING BELLOW WEB SITE .
THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS MR. MORRIS THOMSON AN
AMERICAN AND GREAT INDUSTRIALIST AND A RESIDENT OF
ALASKA. IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I NOW
DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU AND FOR
OUR BANK TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU. YOU HAVE TO
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION WHICH I WILL BE SEND TO YOU AS
THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY
AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR
IT AND I DON'T WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO OUR BANK
TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL.
THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINES HERE STIPULATES THAT IF
SUCH MONEY REMAINED UNCLAIMED AFTER THREE YEARS, THE
MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERED INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS
UNCLAIMED FUND. THE MONEY HAS NOW STAYED MORE THAN
THREE YEARS AND I AM PREPARING DOCUMENTAION TO PROVE
THAT THIS MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERED TO OUR BANK
TREASURY.
IT WILL BE BETWEEN ME AND YOU ONLY THAT WILL KNOW THAT
THE MONEY IS NOT TRANSFERED INTO OUR TREASURE.
THIS REQUEST OF FOREIGNER AS NEXT OF KIN IN THIS
TRANSACTION IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE
CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BURKINABÊÂCANNOT STAND
AS NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR
ASSISTANCE, I AM OFFERING YOU 45% OF THE TOTAL SUM. 5%
FOR CONTINGENCIES (COST OF TRANSFER/OTHER CHARGES)
LIKELY TO BE INCURRED DURING THE COURSE OF
TRANSACTION, WHILE THE REMAINING 50% IS FOR ME.UPON
RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR.ASSAN.IBRAHIM.
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