|
|
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.
- 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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- usmanmapac@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE CENTER." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usmanmapac@aim.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:30:06 +0100
Subject: REQUEST FROM NAJAF.
I have the pleasure to make this surprising business proposal.My name is Mr.Usman Malaka from Najaf in Iraq, presently working with THE PROCUREMENT
ASSISTANCE CENTER (PAC) a consultancy center supporting the Office of Government Contract Policy (OGPCP) in the MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
COOPERATION.
A new legislation has been passed to speed up the on going reconstruction process in Iraq, this is to enable the government achieve a 90% completion
in all areas of the projects before the withdrawals of the US and other coalition forces from Iraq. Hence approval has been given to call-in more
companies and international contractors to come and bid for Jobs and participate in the reconstruction process.The biding process is open
(unlike before),so any company (both local and international) with interest is free to apply. Although it will be highly competitive, but if you are
interested to participate in this lucrative project, Please feel free to communicate with me.
We shall provide you a thorough brief on how to go about it, and other information you may need to enhance a successful biding process.
Yours sincerely
Mr. Usman Malaka.
Email:usmanmapac@aim.com
|
Anti-fraud resources:
