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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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "and cash it" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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: "John" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <livedeptc41@discuz.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:04:37 -0700
Subject: CONTACT US FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT...
Greetings!!!
How are you doing ,since I didn't receive any contact from you about the Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars I went and deposit the Draft with (United parcel Service) UPS ,I traveled out of the country for 3 Months Missionary Course and I will not come back till end of october. I have received an email lately from the courier service informing me that they could not locate the address you have provided earlier for the delivery so they have been holding the parcel. I have paid for the delivery charge and insurance premium for the safe delivery of the cheque and the demurrage charges per week is $45.00USD which means you will be paying for only demurrage charges.
Do contact the UPS in West Africa now for the delivery of your draft so that you can reconfirm your Name, address(s) and direct phone number to them again so that they can carry out the delivery .The parcel registration number is TPG67654
UPS Contact Person: Ms. Anna Brown
Email Address: livedeptc41@discuz.org
Telephone: +2348131233835
Do contact them as soon as possible for I will be out of both phone and emails till I am back from my course and note the date in the cheque will soon expire so you have to get them to deliver it and cash it before the validity ends.
Yours Faithfully,
John
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