|
|
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:
- "hundred thousand great british pounds" (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)
- ",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)
- 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.
- +447024079535 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Power Ball <info@powerball.com>
Reply-To: ballpower2_2@live.com
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:27:34 -0700
Subject: Acknowledge Receipt Of This E-mail
--
We the board of directors of Power Ball lottery with the support of
Microsoft Corporation in the UNITED KINGDOM wish to announce to you
that your email address as just won you the sum of GBP 7,500,000,00
(Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds). This email
draw was Conducted on the 24th of February by Power Ball lottery and
sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation.
This Program is designed to promote the use of the internet world wide
and as part of our award contribution to Microsoft internet user for the
year 2009.
For claims contact below.
Contact Name: Mike Dowell
Phone Number: +447024079535
Or simply reply to this mail.
Congratulations once more
Power Ball Directors
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.
|
Anti-fraud resources:
