|
|
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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rose (Ghana Minister Grant Trust Fund Award )" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <aust.owen@neu.com.cn>
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:41:54 -0000
Subject: CONTACT MR AUSTIN
Good Day,
Now we have arranged your payment of USD$I.5million United State Dollars which is a Grant fund Award from the Ghana Ministerial Grant Fund For foreigners/Voluntary Organizations who have been finding it difficult to receive their own Award Grant of our 2007 fiftieth (50) Years independence Anniversary celebration of our Beloved country Ghana. This Fund Grant is awarded based on Your Country commendable Efforts and assistance during our countries independence celebration.We are very Sorry for the late payment
and we have arranged your payment of $I.5million United State Dollars From Our transfer payment office here in Accra Ghana.
The Director Administrator Trust funds have already signed your payment, However, kindly contact the below person who is in position to release/activate your payment
Name: Mr. Austin Owen,
E-mail: wumt.westernu.gh@neu.com.cn
Cell: 00233 248757068
The Fund Grant payment canter has been mandated to issue out your
payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other person
(s) or office (s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.
Note that the administrator payment need this details from you to process your
payment:
Receiver name_________________
Country_____________________
City________________________
City Code /Zip__________________
Tel________________________
You are hereby ask to contact Mr. Austin Owen for your payment.
Regards,
Mrs. Rosemary Smith.
ACCRA GHANA
This message and any attachment are confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. Attachment or disclose the contents to any other person. Registered GHANA MINISTERIAL TRUST FUND (GMTF© 2009/10)/ All Right Reserved ---------
|
Anti-fraud resources:
