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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- 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.
- collins-williams@hotmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: oceanicbnk plc <oceanicbnkplc.plc@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 05:13:55 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION
*This is to officially inform you that following the joint agreement
the boards
of directors of our bank i.e. Oceanic Bank International Plc reached with
Senator David Mark the Senate President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and
other principle officers of the National House of Assembly and the officials
in the office of the Presidency concerning your payment of Three Million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($3.5m) through our ATM CARD
payment services, which we have already issued the $3.5Million ATM CARD in
your name. We are still waiting for you to come to our bank corporate office
here in Nigeria stated below to come and pick up your $3.5Million ATM CARD
by yourself. or if you cannot come here in Nigeria the bank can help you
also to forword it to your Account if only you can courpret with the bank,*
**
*PLOT 270 OZUMBA MBADIWE,*
*VICTORIA ISLAND, *
*LAGOS NIGERIA*
**
*If you have made up your mind not to come Nigeria to pick up this your
$3.5Million ATM CARD by yourself because of health reasons or any other
reason best known to you. The only alternative you have is to pay the token
fee of Eighty United States Dollars ($80.00) only, which for dispatching
fee because your $3.5Million ATM CARD must be fully insured by the
Nigerian Deposit
Insurance Corporation (NDIC) before it will be dispatch to your designated
address in your country through the Federal Government accredited courier
service. And you must send us your residential or office address where this
your ATM CARD will be send to if you are unable to come to Nigeria to pick
it up by yourself. *
**
*However for the avoidance of doubts in this payment and for you to confirm
that we have already issued your $3.5Million ATM CARD in your name. Attached
is your issued $3.5Million ATM CARD and your funds have been electronically
loaded and configured into the ATM CARD to enable you have access to cash
anytime and anywhere. You are advice to open the attached file and view your
issued $3.5m ATM CARD. Your ATM CARD NUMBER is 6287 0897 6521 2902 and
maximum amount you will be permitted to withdraw from any ATM machine is
$1000.00 to $20.000.00 per day because it is customized and Inter Switch and
you can make withdrawal in any location of ATM Machine of your choice in
your country and there will not be requirements of clearance certificates or
bank account before you will make withdrawal of funds from your ATM CARD. *
**
*Finally we expect you to come to Nigeria and pick up this your
$3.5Million ATM CARD by yourself or you request for me to give you
instruction on how you will pay this $770.00 required to send you this $3.5m
ATM CARD through courier service, which must be fully insured by the
Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) before it will be dispatch to
your designated address in your country to avoid lost on transit. Therefore
you are advice to make your final decision and update us immediately you
receive this message today. *
**
*Your earlier response and compliance to this instruction will be on your
own best interest. *
**
*It is very important you call me today on my hotline +234 -70-34300381 for
more directives or you send me your own telephone or cell phone number where
I can reach you. *
*Congratulations in advance.*
**
*Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.*
**
*Yours faithful*
*Dr.Collins*
*contact collins-williams@hotmail.com *
*The Chief Director of ATM Payment *
*Services Oceanic Bank Intl *
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