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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "fo.unit102@mail.mn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Stella Ibe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <postbus.alliance@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 00:33:52 -0800
Subject: SUBJECT: Immediate Release of Your FUND Via ATM CARD
ATTN:FUND BENEFICIARY.
PAYMENT APPROVAL ORDER IN YOUR FAVOUR
After the Executive Council meeting held with other Financial institution and Inline with CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA Financial Regulation,today the deed was approved by the International Foreign Exchange Control Unit under the Order refference 59X 1X VOL 191 RGD Executive Express Approval and Censorship of the FEDRAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Financial Regulation,under SECTION 15 Paragraph 11 ARTICLE 19 (A)of the enable ACT of 1998 hereby Approved The Payment Order.
It was then concluded that your payment is to be made through our SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER in Europe, America and Asia Pacific Amsterdam, which is then instruction given by the Federal Reserve Bank:DR.GODSON BELLO, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager.
This committee and our Bank have cancelled all inheritance payment to be made by telegraphic transfer to beneficiary's account. This decision was taking when this committee and the government received reports from beneficiaries on much charges where ask to be paid by Government officials and Banks which lead to the delay in their payments.
This is to officially inform you that ATM card worth Five Million Five hundred thausand Dollars ($5.5Million usd) has been credited in your favor in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2010. Your personal identification is ATM-5379. Contact the verification officer (Mr.Jonathan Abams)on:+234 8032204837 E-mail(fo.unit102@mail.mn) with the following for proper verification and claim processing:
(1)Your Full Name :
(2)Your Address where you want the payment centre to send your ATM CARD.:
(3)Phone And Fax Number :
(4)Age :
(5)Occupation :
(6)Your Nearest International Air Port in your City of residence:
(7)Company Name:
NOTE: You are also required to send to the verification officer/agent a means of Identification which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or International Passport for proper verification and authentication.
Best Regards
Mrs.Stella Ibe
STATE PAYMENT COMMITTEE
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